KARACHI:
This refers to the article titled, “Will the world reorganise Taliban rule?” published in your newspaper on 27th December 2021. Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan has been rather persuasive in convincing the global community to give assent to the newly formed Taliban government. Pakistan had also asked the Muslim community to step up at OIC moot held on 19th December 2021. The OIC presented a six-point agenda to turn the tide in Afghanistan either directly or through the OIC platform as the country faces a humanitarian crisis, food security and economic hardship.
There is a dire need of rehabilitation of banks in Afghanistan. The UN sanctions have not been revoked yet, which restricts the international community from lending a helping hand. Moreover, Afghanistan’s economy is declining by the day. The UN World Food Programme claims that children are facing severe malnutrition while the UNDP has estimated that 97% of Afghans may fall below the poverty line if necessary measures are not taken by international human rights organisations.
A survey by Reporters Without Borders and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association indicates that approximately 60% of journalists are unemployed, as about 43% of Afghan media outlets have shut down their operations after the Taliban takeover. Moreover, the patriarchal mindset continues as women seeking to travel long distances will not be allowed on road transport unless they are accompanied by a close male relative.
If Afghanistan is left unattended and if UN sanctions remain, then ultimately millions will have to bear the brunt of an economic collapse. This could have a spillover effect on the entire world as it would lead to mass migration of Afghans from their own country. What will the international community do when the lives of millions hang in the balance?
Syeda Hadia Bakhtawar
Nankana Sahib
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2021.
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