17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers

On 29 November, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - the OIC Summit Chair - took the important initiative to convene an Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, to consider the situation in Afghanistan. Pakistan has strongly welcomed this initiative. Following Pakistan’s offer to host, the meeting will be held in Islamabad, on 19 December 2021. UN system, IFIs, some international and regional organizations and non-OIC members are among other invitees. The backdrop of this meeting is the serious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. According to UN estimates, 60% of Afghanistan’s 38 million people face “crisis levels of hunger” and that situation is getting worse every day. World Food Programme has warned that 3.2 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition. According to UNHCR, 665,000 people have been newly displaced within Afghanistan between January and September 2021 – in addition to the 2.9 million people already internally displaced in that country. The advent of winter has further exacerbated the situation. If left unattended, the situation could aggravate into a major humanitarian crisis. Afghanistan is a founding member of the OIC. As part of the Islamic Ummah, we are bound by fraternal bonds of amity and brotherhood with the people of Afghanistan. Over the years, the OIC has extended consistent support to the people of Afghanistan. Today, more than ever before, the Afghan people need support of the international community including the OIC.

On its part, Pakistan has been engaged in intense diplomatic outreach, illustrated by the Prime Minister’s contacts with world leaders, Foreign Minister Qureshi’s numerous bilateral interactions, and visit to 4 neighbouring countries of Afghanistan (Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan), establishment of the 6 neighbouring countries platform at