OIC Conference: A ray of hope
SHOWING respect and providing access to basic rights are crucial in the 21st Century. Unfortunately, in Afghanistan, both of these are in violation.
The West stands for women’s rights but only for their right over attire not for their access to food or medicine.
These circumstances raise eyebrows and ask for unprecedented actions. In this regard, to address the rising humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Pakistan hosted the 17th extraordinary session of the OIC in Islamabad, after 41 long years.
The Summit was a mega success in achieving its goals to prepare a plan on how to overcome the humanitarian crisis though it was called on short notice. Credit goes to PM Imran Khan, for his firm commitment to helping the Afghan brothers and the Foreign Office of Pakistan for their dedication to the cause.
Because hosting Foreign Ministers and representatives of 57 countries along with other key international organisations during the pandemic and constant Indian involvement to isolate Pakistan in global politics becomes critical.
The efforts of Pakistan in helping Afghans are quite visible from their gestures. There is no second thought that peace and stability of Pakistan are directly associated with peace and stability of Afghanistan.
This is also a reality that Afghanistan is facing a grave humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of the Taliban’s take-over as the US froze $9.5 billion in central bank reserves and imposed sanctions, causing many institutions and governments to shy away from direct dealings with the Afghan Government. Their banking sector has collapsed and is breaking down, cash and savings are hard to access, prices are rising. Per capita annual income is forecast to drop next year from $509 to $350.
What could be the factors behind such a collapse?The US left behind economic crisis in the country. Such as 75% of public spendings and 50% of the budget was based on foreign assistance while 90% of defence and 45% of the GDP was based on foreign grants. Once the foreign assistance and grants stopped the economy collapsed.
Hence, it is time to revive its economy and build on its banking sector because withdrawal of foreign assistance led to 30% shrinkage in the economy. Now even if the funds are provided 28% shrinkage will remain.
The US, western states and regional governments have demanded the Afghan Government ensure non-usage of Afghan soil for terrorism, forming a broad-based government and women representation in all sectors of the government.
The Interim Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Mutaqi agreed to all of the above but requested all concerned states to give the newly formed government some time to execute it.
The issue Mutaki raised is their socio-cultural dynamics in implementing the above as the issue cannot be resolved through western lenses.
The way the West looks at the Afghan situation is blurry. The overall Pushtun culture has a direct impact on the government structure. Therefore, the newly formed government needs time to adjust according to the new norms of international politics and its requirements.
Here the issue is whether survival is important at this stage or political manoeuvring? When 1-3 are starving and according to UN reports soon the bulk of the Afghan population will be malnourished.
According to the UNHCR, nearly 23 million people – that is 55% of the population – are facing extreme levels of hunger and nearly nine million of them are at risk of famine.
In this catastrophic situation is that justifiable to punish the Afghans for something their previous leadership has done?The special one-day meeting of OIC members seeks to respond to the growing crisis.
But, the crisis can only be resolved if the Taliban come forward and show their actions to address the concerns raised by its neighbours, regional states and the West to address the security concerns such as terrorism issues, broad-based government and women representation.
Only then efforts of Pakistan along with the other Muslim States and the UN and other key organisations can reap fruits.
Premier Imran made remarks during the OIC summit that Pakistan faced the threat of the militant Islamic State (IS) group from Afghan soil.
He further mentioned that “I speak to the US specifically that they must delink the Afghanistan government from the 40 million Afghan citizens,” he said, “even if they have been in conflict with the Taliban for 20 years.”
He also warned about possible refugee crisis and the rise in IS violence in case the international community does not provide support to the Afghan citizens.
It is difficult for Pakistan to look after Afghanistan due to its struggling economy. It has to be understood that handling the Afghan humanitarian situation is not possible at the individual level, it has to be at the collective level.
The Muslim Ummah has to play its due role in holding the hands of the Afghan people and its leadership at this difficult time.
In the past four months, Pakistan helped the Western states in evaluating 92,000 people from Afghanistan who were either anti-Taliban or had some sort of threat. Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan, claimed Pakistan had issued more visas to the Afghans as compared to the rest of the world during this time.
To counter the COVID threat, Pakistan administered about 3,000 vaccine doses daily at Torkham and some 8,000 at Chaman. Pakistan is/was always ready to train Afghan doctors and paramedics on coping with the current health challenges.
Post OIC at least the regional states should recognise the Taliban so the normal flow of aid and assistance can reach out to the needy. Once recognition takes place rebuilding Afghan institutions will become possible!
—The writer is Assistant Professor, Department of Government and Public Policy, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Sciences and Technology.
