Saudi Arabia will host a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address Afghanistan.

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia, as chair of the Islamic Summit and in accordance with relevant OIC decisions on Afghanistan, has requested that an Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting be convened as soon as possible to discuss the humanitarian situation in the country and pathways for an immediate humanitarian response.

In his most recent Tweet, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that Pakistan supports Saudi Arabia’s request to convene an Extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan.

He stated that we have volunteered to hold the session on the 17th of next month in Islamabad.

Pakistan has proposed to host this gathering on December 17, 2021, in Islamabad. Following the offer, the Kingdom stated in a statement that it looks forward to convening this urgent meeting and hopes that it will result in the identification of appropriate means and mechanisms for delivering aid to the Afghan people, as well as the coordination of procedures with relevant UN agencies, international financial institutions, and the international community for the purpose of mitigating humanitarian impact and alleviating Afghan suffering.

Saudi Arabia also hoped that this would be an opportunity to demonstrate a collective stance on key principles such as the importance of taking steps to ensure Afghanistan’s security and stability, as well as preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity, free from external interference, while rejecting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and ensuring that Afghan territory is not used as a refuge or safe haven for terrorist and extremists groups.

This conference will call for Afghanistan’s interim government to be more inclusive, to follow international standards and treaties, and to protect human rights and women’s rights to labour and education guaranteed by Islam.

According to the statement, the people of Afghanistan are facing a fast growing humanitarian catastrophe this winter, with millions of Afghan women, children, and the elderly in need of essential help, including food, medication, and shelter.

“Imminent economic collapse and further degradation of living conditions would lead to increased unrest within Afghanistan, thereby affecting regional and international peace and security,” the statement continued.