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Islamabad

No Solution in Sight

Even though the OIC meeting in Islamabad confirmed Pakistan’s status as a leading player in Afghanistan, the summit failed to offer a quick-fix for a complex crisis.

By Taha Kehar | January 2022


Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan has been reeling under a grave humanitarian crisis that needs to be averted with immediate effect. The international community has repeatedly pledged to safeguard the Afghan populace at all costs. Even so, these promises have often taken a backseat to complex political realities and shattered the illusion of a quick-fix on this critical issue.

In December 2021, the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan assumed centre-stage at the special meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Islamabad. Although the summit produced some valuable gains, it wasn’t fuelled by the spirit of urgency that is required to cope with a pressing humanitarian disaster.

It was a prudent decision to convene a special meeting of the 57-member body on a crisis that has been exacerbated over time. Large delegations from OIC member states attended the summit, and representatives from non-member states and international organizations were also invited for the meeting. It was undoubtedly the largest global gathering on Afghanistan since the Taliban seized the reins.

During the summit, tangible steps were taken to address the challenges that have afflicted the war-ravaged country. The body drew attention to the fact that the US sanctions had suppressed all formalized banking channels through which funds could be transferred to Afghanistan. As a result, the OIC vowed to establish a humanitarian trust fund that will be overseen by the Islamic Development Bank without any interference from the Taliban-led government. Though it will not be operational until the first quarter of 2022, the trust fund was seen as a commendable feat as it provided an incentive for more countries to send donations to the Afghan population. In addition, foreign ministers at the OIC meeting also demanded that the US should unfreeze Afghanistan’s financial resources -- a welcome move that will prevent further economic collapse.

A food security programme was also launched to deal with the burgeoning malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan. This initiative will be managed by the Islamic Organization for Food Security, and OIC member states and other global players will be expected to contribute to it.


At first glance, the special meeting of the OIC ticked all the right boxes. However, it failed to provide immediate solutions to a pressing humanitarian concern. An editorial published in Dawn (‘Aid for Afghanistan’, December 21, 2021) states that no financial pledges were made on the spot for the war-torn country by OIC member states. The editorial also highlights the fact that “the people... would have to...wait till at least March to see the OIC doing anything substantive”. Though this editorial comment implicitly views the OIC as an ineffective forum, it serves as a reminder that some problems require brisk solutions. In the absence of immediate strategies, other multilateral organizations may have to play a more proactive role in pushing for a change in Afghanistan’s status quo.

Be that as it may, the OIC’s special meeting proved to be a roaring success for Islamabad. The summit provided the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government a golden opportunity to showcase the country’s copious diplomatic overtures with regard to its Western neighbour.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi (right) holds talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Farhan bin Abdullah.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan desperately requires cohesive engagement from global players. By hosting an important meeting on Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, Pakistan proved that it is committed to broadening the scope for this form of global cooperation. Such efforts could help mobilize the international community to disassociate the people of Afghanistan from the country’s oppressive Taliban rulers and provide them with much-needed assistance.

However, it would be unfair to assume that Pakistan merely offered symbolic support to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian woes. During the special meeting, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi put forward a six-point agenda for the 57-member body to tackle the crisis. As per the proposal, a body must be created to channel financial assistance for the country and a concerted effort must be made to invest in the people of Afghanistan. The framework also included efforts to improve food security and strengthen access to legitimate banking services. Qureshi also urged the OIC to empower Afghan institutions insofar that they can resist terrorism and illegal trade in narcotics. The foreign minister also recommended a dialogue with the Taliban regime about what the international community expects from it.

The six-point framework reflects Pakistan’s superior efforts at pursuing some form of thought leadership on the matter. However, these efforts may have lost their sheen owing to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ill-advised remarks on the fundamental nature of human rights. The premier demanded that global players should remain mindful of the intricacies of Afghan culture while expecting the Taliban regime to deliver on its human-rights commitments. These comments were problematic as they condoned rights violations. The PM’s remarks also conflated Pashtun culture with the outmoded values of the Taliban administration.

By hosting an important meeting on Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis, Pakistan proved that it is committed to broadening the scope for this form of global cooperation.

Barring a few noticeable slip-ups, the OIC meeting in Islamabad was arguably the first among many meetings on Afghanistan. The summit confirmed Pakistan’s status as a leading player in Afghanistan, even though it failed to offer a quick-fix for a complex crisis.

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