World should not shun Afghans' plight due to new crises: FM

Qureshi calls upon the international community to support the Afghan people in their journey towards sustainable peace

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday stressed that new humanitarian situations emerging in other parts of the world should not move the focus away from the dire needs of millions of Afghans.

He was addressing a high-level ministerial meeting on supporting the humanitarian response in Afghanistan which was held in a virtual format. The meeting was convened by the UN Secretary-General, joined by member state co-hosts including Qatar, the United Kingdom and Germany.

In his video address, the foreign minister called upon the international community to support the Afghan people in their journey towards sustainable peace and development.

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He underscored the importance of durable solutions including the provision of livelihood opportunities and ensuring access to basic necessities such as food, health and education for the Afghan population.

FM Qureshi recalled that Pakistan had been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts for Afghanistan including facilitating evacuations and relocations, and establishment of a humanitarian corridor for the delivery of relief goods through air and land routes.

He noted that Pakistan had airlifted humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and dispatched wheat flour and medical supplies via land as part of a $30 million humanitarian assistance package for Afghanistan.

"Over the years, Pakistan had earmarked over $1 billion for a range of development projects in Afghanistan. Pakistan also continued to host around 4 million Afghan refugees," he added.

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The foreign minister also apprised the meeting of Pakistan’s efforts through the platform of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the operationalisation of ‘Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund’; decision to establish ‘Afghanistan Food Security Programme’; and the appointment of a Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary-General for Afghanistan.

The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continue the provision of humanitarian relief to the Afghan people, under the UN and OIC umbrella, as well as through bilateral channels, in addition to facilitating the UN in its humanitarian relief efforts by providing logistical and other support through Pakistan.

Emphasising that humanitarian assistance should be unconditional and apolitical, in line with international principles, Qureshi called for concerted international efforts to help Afghanistan build a sustainable economy and reintegrate into the global supply chains and banking system.

The main objective of the meeting was to secure scaled-up resources for addressing the unprecedented level of humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.

At the start of 2022, the United Nations had launched an appeal for over $4.4 billion in that regard.