This weekend’s Extraordinary OIC Foreign Ministers meeting, called for by OIC chair Saudi Arabia and hosted by Pakistan, has one sole item on its agenda: taking action to halt the unfolding economic collapse of Afghanistan and the resulting humanitarian disaster. International aid and unfreezing Afghanistan’s reserves in order to restore the nation’s banking system are on the agenda. Representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s 57 member states are being joined by high-level representatives from the United States, Russia, China, Europe and international institutions (UN, World Bank, etc.). Afghan interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is leading the Afghan delegation which will actively participate, at Pakistan’s invitation. As such, it will be the largest international gathering on Afghanistan since the Taliban assumed power in August.
Over 90 representatives had arrived in Islamabad today, with more delegates scheduled to arrive tomorrow, when “senior officials” meet. The Council of Foreign Ministers meets on Sunday, when decisions will be taken. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reported yesterday that a meeting of the Afghanistan “Troika"—U.S., Russia and China—would be held in Islamabad this weekend, and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi confirmed today that U.S. Special Envoy Thomas West will be in Islamabad for these meetings, along with Russian and Chinese representatives.
OIC Assistant Secretary-General Tariq Ali Bakheet said the intent is to “adopt a clear strategy” to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and he expects an “important comprehensive resolution” to be adopted, with the OIC mobilizing “its financial institutions and member states to get more resources to support Afghanistan,” according to a report in Daily Times of Pakistan.
