Engagement with Afghanistan crucial to avert country’s economic collapse: FM Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Seeking assistance from the international community on an emergency basis to avert the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi warned that the war-torn country stood at the brink of an economic collapse.

“With international funding dried up, it has become difficult to pay even salaries let alone pursue development projects [in Afghanistan]. The common man is reeling under the effects of a severe drought. Any further downward slide will severely limit the new administration’s capacity to run the government,” the foreign minister told the inaugural meeting of the Troika Plus on Afghanistan at the Foreign Office in Islamabad.

Citing UN reports on the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Qureshi urged the world community to take measures for its construction and financial assistance.

The Troika Plus meeting is being attended by Special Representatives of China, Pakistan, Russia and the United States, and the visiting delegation of the interim government of Afghanistan led by Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

“The Troika Plus’ engagement with the Afghan government would help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development and help constrict space for terrorist outfits’ operating from and within Afghanistan,” the foreign minister stressed.

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Therefore, he said, it was imperative for the international community to send humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis. Health, education and municipal services required urgent attention, he said.

Suggesting a possible solution to the economic crisis, Qureshi said enabling Afghanistan to access its frozen funds will dovetail into our efforts to regenerate economic activities and move Afghan economy towards stability and sustainability.

“Similarly, the UN and its agencies must be urged to find ways to reach out to the common Afghan and help stabilise the situation,” he said.

Being an immediate neighbour, he underscored, Pakistan had a high stake in Afghanistan’s peace and stability.

“We consider every ethnic community in Afghanistan important. Located next door, we have borne the brunt of four decades of conflict and instability in the shape of refugees, drugs and terrorism,” he said.

FM Qureshi expressed gratitude to the neighbours of Afghanistan for supporting Pakistan’s call for a regional platform to discuss common concerns and opportunities. The two meetings, he said, yielded substantive and forward looking outcome documents.

He recalled that his visit to Kabul last month, helped understand the new Afghan government’s expectations from the international community.

“It also provided us the opportunity to share our assessment with the Taliban leadership and highlight the international community’s expectations of them.

“We believe Taliban are interested in engagement, as they seek international acceptance and support,” he said.

He urged the international community to avoid repeating mistakes of the past and pursue a positive engagement.

The foreign minister said the engagement with Afghanistan was important as nobody wished to see a relapse into civil war and an economic collapse to spur instability.

“Everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis,” he said.

Qureshi reaffirmed the resolve of Prime Minister Imran Khan to help Afghanistan on its path towards peace, progress and prosperity.