OIC Secretary General expresses hope that whole world will play a role in providing funds for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 20 (SABAH): Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha returned home after attending the 17th Extraordinary Conference of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Pakistan. At the airport, Ministers of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Mian Farrukh Habib and Engineer Ali Muhammad Khan bade farewell to the distinguished guest.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, Hissein Brahim Taha said, “First of all, I would like to thank both the Government and the people of Pakistan for their hospitality. I think yesterday’s conference was a success which is a source of satisfaction”.

“Yesterday’s extraordinary meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers was a great success and I think it was very important in light of the current state of affairs and developments in the region” Hissein Brahim Taha remarked. He added that the conference proved to be a great success and there were several reasons for it, the first of which is that the OIC decided at Sunday’s meeting that a senior official, Tarig Ali Bakheet, had been appointed Special Representative for Afghanistan and it was hoped that the OIC Special Representative for Afghanistan would fulfill important responsibilities and help improve coordination of states. “In that regard, the first contact he made yesterday was with the Taliban representatives who were visiting here. It is hoped that in the future, we will continue to work closely with all relevant countries or organizations to assist the people of Afghanistan” the OIC secretary general added.

Hissein Brahim Taha further remarked that the second major outcome of the conference was the establishment of a fund to help Afghan masses. He added that it would be an international fund to which various countries would contribute and they were hopeful that not only the Muslim countries which are members of the OIC but also the countries which are not members of the OIC would play their role for the purpose so that the people of Afghanistan who had been suffering from last 40 years and have been suffering from war and unrest can be helped.

He expressed hope that the whole world will play a role in providing funds for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.

Speaking on the occasion Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC in Pakistan will open a new chapter of engagement with Afghanistan.

He expressed hope that decisions made in the meeting will be implemented. He thanked all the delegations for attending the meeting. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Engineer Ali Muhammad Khan was also present on the occasion.