ISLAMABAD: Islamic countries pledged on Sunday to set up a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan as, with millions facing hunger and a harsh winter setting in, Pakistan's prime minister warned of chaos if the worsening emergency was not urgently addressed.
The crisis is causing mounting alarm but the international response has been muted, given Western reluctance to help the Taliban government, which seized power in August.
"Unless action is taken immediately, Afghanistan is heading for chaos," Prime Minister Imran Khan told a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Islamabad.
The trust fund, announced by Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, will be set up under the aegis of the Islamic Development Bank.
Allowing Afghanistan access to reserves frozen outside the country would be key to preventing economic collapse, participants in the meeting - which included representatives from the United Nations, United States, European Union and Japan - said in a statement.
But it was unclear how much the fund would contain and the meeting did not provide official recognition to the Taliban government.
Acting Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the government had restored peace and security and done much to address demands for more inclusiveness with respect for human rights, including the rights of women.
"All must acknowledge that political isolation of Afghanistan is not beneficial for anyone, therefore it is imperative that all support the prevailing stability and back it both politically and economically," he said.
NEAR-COLLAPSE
Taliban officials have previously asked for help to rebuild Afghanistan's shattered economy and feed more than 20 million people threatened with hunger.
Some countries and aid organisations have begun delivering aid, but a near-collapse of the country's banking system has complicated their work.
Qureshi said unlocking financial and banking channels was essential "because the economy can't function and people can't be helped without a banking system."
The scale of the challenge has been underlined by crowds gathering outside the newly reopened passport office in Kabul, where hundreds have been lining up for passports that would enable them to leave the country.
Beyond immediate aid, Afghanistan needs help ensuring longer-term economic stability. Much will depend on whether Washington is willing to unfreeze billions of dollars in central bank reserves and lift sanctions that have caused many institutions and governments to shy away from direct dealings with the Taliban.
Muttaqi said the Taliban would not allow Afghanistan to be used as a base for attacks on other countries and he said no reprisals would be carried out against officials of the former government.
But the Taliban have faced heavy criticism for keeping women and girls out of employment and education and excluding broad sections of Afghan society from government. They have also been accused of trampling on human rights and, despite their promise of amnesty, targeting officials of the former administration.
Reuters
Mon Dec 20 2021
Pakistan's PM Imran Khan poses with the delegates attending the 17th extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on the Afghanistan situation, in Islamabad, Pakistan December 19, 2021. - Press Information Department/via REUTERS
Tiket Kejohanan Badminton Masters Malaysia 2024 laris
Bahang kehangatan penganjuran Kejohanan Badminton Masters Malaysia 2024 di Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil dari 21 hingga 26 Mei ini kian dirasai selepas tiket kejohanan itu laris terjual.
Pengurus syarikat rugi lebih RM400,000 terpedaya pelaburan tidak wujud
Seorang pengurus syarikat swasta kerugian RM401,075 akibat menjadi mangsa sindiket penipuan pelaburan tidak wujud secara dalam talian.
Pasaran getah Malaysia ditutup tinggi, seiring niaga hadapan getah serantau
Pada 5 petang, harga rujukan getah fizikal LGM bagi GMM 20 berada pada 781 sen sekilogram manakala susu getah pukal pada 729.5 sen sekilogram.
Hoki Dalam Dewan Piala Asia: Malaysia raih tempat ketiga
Kemenangan tersebut mengulangi pencapaian dilakar pada edisi 2010, 2012 dan 2022.
PM Singapura Wong bercakap dengan PM Anwar, pemimpin lain pada hari pertama bertugas
Perdana Menteri Singapura Lawrence Wong hari ini bercakap dengan pemimpin di rantau ini melalui telefon pada hari pertama beliau memegang jawatan, termasuk dengan Anwar.
PM ucap Hari Guru, rakam jutaan penghargaan buat warga pendidik
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini mengucapkan Selamat Hari Guru kepada seluruh warga pendidik yang gigih membina bangsa.
AWANI Tonight: NHMS 2023: Number of people with depression doubles in 4 years
The number of people with depression had doubled from 2019 to 2023 with one million people aged 15 and above suffering from depression in Malaysia.
AWANI Tonight: Supporting educators’ growth in the age of AI
On Teachers’ Day, Assoc Prof Dr Adelina Asmawi from Universiti Malaya shares the main challenges lecturers face in the higher education sector, and where improvements can be made for better support.
AWANI Tonight: Israel intensifies Jabalia and Rafah operations in Gaza
The Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza is now the main battle zone, where tens of thousands of civilians have fled. At the same time, Israel continues to pound the southern city of Rafah.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Mei 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Pilihan raya Pakistan: Perkhidmatan rangkaian mudah alih digantung, sempadan ditutup
Pihak berkuasa Pakistan menggantung perkhidmatan mudah alih dan menutup sempadan dengan negara jiran Afghanistan dan Iran selepas insiden pengeboman.
150,000 wanita dan sektor kesihatan, hak tidak diabaikan - Menteri Kesihatan Awam Afghanistan
Seramai 150,000 wanita berkhidmat dalam sektor kesihatan Afghanistan ketika ini dengan pelbagai cabang kepakaran.
Afghanistan ketika ini 100 peratus aman - Menteri Kesihatan Awam Afghanistan
Situasi di Afghanistan jauh lebih baik berbanding 20 tahun lalu yang menyaksikan ratusan orang maut akibat peperangan.
Afghanistan perlu raih semula penghormatan untuk membangun - Penganalisis
Afghanistan perlu memecahkan persepsi negatif terhadap negaranya dan meraih semula penghormatan komuniti antarabangsa untuk membangun.
Genosid di Gaza hancurkan 'kredibiliti' pertubuhan dunia - Afghanistan
Afghanistan mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya rejim Israel itu kerana meneruskan pengeboman yang membunuh ratusan rakyat Palestin sejak jeda kemanusiaan tamat pada Jumaat.
Gempa bumi landa barat laut Afghanistan, 100 cedera
Sekurang-kurangnya 100 orang cedera selepas satu lagi gempa bumi kuat berukuran 6.3 pada skala Richter menggegarkan barat laut Afghanistan pada Ahad.
80 cedera dalam gempa bumi kuat di Afghanistan
Menurut penduduk tempatan, kebanyakan mangsa yang cedera telah dibawa ke hospital.
Angka kematian gempa bumi Afghanistan meningkat lebih 2,000 orang
Lebih 2,000 orang maut selepas beberapa gempa bumi kuat menggegarkan barat Afghanistan pada Sabtu.
Gempa 5.6 magnitud landa barat laut Afghanistan
Menurut Pusat Penyelidikan Geosains Jerman (GFZ), bacaan gempa yang dikesan di kedalaman 10 km itu diturunkan daripada catatan awal 6.2 magnitud.
Kedutaan Afghanistan di New Delhi ditutup
Misi yang terletak di kawasan diplomatik Chanakyapuri itu bakal menamatkan operasi mulai 1 Oktober.