Islamabad: Afghanistan “is on the verge of economic collapse” and the international community must immediately continue funds and provide humanitarian assistance, Pakistani Foreign Minister warns Thursday because US diplomats, Russia and Taliban meet in Islamabad.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi spoke at the opening of what was called the “Troika Plus” meeting, which included Thomas West, a new US special envoy for Afghanistan.
The delegates also met Thursday with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
“Today, Afghanistan stands on the verge of economic collapse,” said Qureshi, adding that the slide down further will “greatly limit” the ability of the new Taliban government to run the country.
After the meeting, a joint statement said four countries had agreed to continue “practical involvement with the Taliban to encourage the implementation of moderate and careful policies that can help achieve a stable and prosperous Afghanistan as soon as possible”.
But it also urges the Taliban to do more to create inclusive governments that provide the same rights and opportunities for women and girls to participate in all aspects of society.
Qureshi said it was “important for the international community to support the provision of humanitarian aid urgently”.
It includes allowing Afghanistan to access frozen funds by Western donors since the Taliban took control of the country in August, he added.
Continuing the flow of funds “will like our efforts to regenerate economic activities and move the Afghan economy towards stability and sustainability,” Qureshi said.
Doing so will also benefit Western countries, he argued then commented on government media.
“If you think that you are far away, Europe is safe and the areas you imagine will not be affected by terrorism, don’t forget history,” he said.
“We have learned from history and we don’t want to repeat the mistake in the past.” In Audio Message to Afghan Media, Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi said the meeting had recognized the efforts made by the new government.
“They are all willing to go to this cause and ongoing efforts in Afghanistan in terms of making peace, eradicating crime, and better than the Afghan government with each day,” he said.
“All of this was mentioned and again by group members during the meeting, and to provide support to this cause.” The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan is on the verge of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with more than half of the countries facing the lack of “acute” and winter foods that force millions to choose between migration and hunger.
The Troika Plus meeting was the first trip to the western messenger to the region since taking over from Zalmay Khalilzad, the old diplomat who served the talks that led to US withdrawals from Afghanistan earlier this year.
The State Department said earlier this week that the West also planned to visit Russia and India.
“Together with our partners, he will continue to clarify the expectations we have from the Taliban and from the Afghan government in the future,” said the Foreign Ministry spokesman Ned told a direction.
West, who was in Brussels earlier this week to prepare for NATO on US engagement with the Taliban, told reporters, Islamists had been “very clear” voicing their desire to see help, normalize international assistance and achieve sanctions.
He called for the association of allies about the problems, noting that Washington “could not give the only thing this alone”.