INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The two-day meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation&s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers wrapped up on Wednesday in Islamabad
after delegates adopted the 70 point Islamabad Declaration, which also touched on Afghanistan.OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha,
while speaking at a press conference at the end of the 48th meeting of this 57-member body, said: &We shall continue dialogue with the
authorities in Afghanistan, with international partners, with the objective to achieve peace, security and development in this member
country of the OIC.Forty-six countries participated at a ministerial level, while the other countries were represented by senior
officials.Nearly 800 delegates attended the meeting hosted by Islamabad.The meeting agenda included deliberations on the situation in
Palestine, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Afghanistan.Also, issues pertaining to Africa and Muslims in Europe and
developments in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Syria were taken up at the meeting.Islamophobia, international terrorism and cooperation in
economic, cultural, social, humanitarian, and scientific domains were the other subjects that were discussed.
A wide-ranging Islamabad
Declaration containing as many as 70 points was adopted at the meeting by the conference.Islamabad Declaration underscored strong commitment
to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan.We affirm our abiding solidarity with the people
of Afghanistan and express the confidence that the resilient Afghan people will continue to steer their country on the path to progress and
We recognize that sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan can only be assured through formation of a comprehensive, broad-based and
inclusive government with the participation of all Afghan ethnicities,& the declaration read.We underline the importance of full respect for
the human rights of all Afghans, including women, children and persons belonging to ethnic, religious and cultural minorities.We commend the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for convening and Pakistan for hosting the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in
Islamabad, on 19 December 2021, to mobilize humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan; note with apperception its decisions
including the appointment of the Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary-General on Afghanistan, establishment of the Afghanistan Humanitarian
Trust Fund and Afghanistan Food Security Programme, and the strengthening of the OIC Mission in Kabul,& read the declaration.We appreciate
the assistance provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the office of the OIC Special Envoy on Afghanistan.We welcome the
operationalization of the Humanitarian Trust Fund during the 48th CFM, and in this regard appreciate the pivotal role of the Islamic
We appreciate the first important contribution received in the Trust Fund from Nigeria.We reiterate our call to the OIC Member States and
other international partners to contribute generously to the Trust Fund, which would help alleviate the urgent humanitarian needs of the
Afghan people and to provide them opportunities for progress and development,& read the declaration.We underline that Afghanistan&s early
access to its financial resources is critical in preventing an economic meltdown and exacerbation of the humanitarian situation; and call
for the return of the frozen national assets of Afghanistan to its people to whom they rightfully belong.We reaffirm the importance of
ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used as a platform or safe haven by any terrorist group, in particular Al-Qaeda, Daesh and
its affiliates, ETIM, and TTP; and urge the international community to remain cautious against the possibility of incitement and the role of
spoilers, both inside and outside the country, to derail efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan,& read the
declaration.The post OIC adopts Islamabad Declaration, welcomes new Afghan trust fund first appeared on Ariana News.
