UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has emphasised the importance of addressing Afghanistan’s humanitarian and economic crisis, warning that failure to do so would result in massive human suffering, more Afghan refugees, a resurgence of internal conflict, and an increased threat from terrorist groups such as Da’esh.
“We are at another inflection point in Afghanistan’s recent turbulent history,” Ambassador Muni Akram told the UN Security Council on Thursday, as the body analysed the Taliban’s policies.
“We must be clear about our objectives,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that the primary goal must be to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan, where Wednesday’s strong earthquake was just one of several emergencies confronting the country.
As chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers, he stated that Pakistan has circulated to the 15-member council a document outlining a path to peace as envisioned by the 57-member organisation at the previous two ministerial meetings.
OIC representatives call for continuous engagement, including in recovery, reconstruction, education, financial and material assistance, Ambassador Akram said, emphasising that Afghanistan’s access to financial resources is critical to preventing economic collapse and urging the Council to ensure that targeted sanctions do not impede the provision of humanitarian aid or economic resources.
