Kabul (BNA) The 47th Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OIC on 27-28 November 2020 passed three resolutions on Afghanistan:
Resolution 4/47-POL on the Situation in Afghanistan,
Resolution 44/47-POL on Crimes of Daesh, and
Resolution 5/47-POL on the Regional Initiatives in Support of Afghanistan
The main points of these resolutions on peace, security, political, economic and refugee situation and regional cooperation are summarized below:
PEACE:
OIC welcomed the start of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiation in Doha on 12 September 2020 and all efforts undertaken by the government of Afghanistan, in collaboration with its regional and international partners to end the decades-long conflict through negotiations with the Taliban;
It commended the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s efforts to start peace negotiations with Taliban by releasing over 6,000 Taliban prisoners following the ratifications of prisoner release by the Peace Consultative Loya Jirga in August 2020.
It condemned in strongest terms the continued violence and the recent terrorist attacks against civilians including the recent attack in Bamyan, the attack on Kabul University, Kosar Training Centre and the Kabul maternity Hospital killing and wounding many innocent and peaceful civilian people;
It called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to allow for an effective antiCOVID19 campaign and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the war and disasters affected people as well as supporting confidence building and sustaining an enabling environment for the peace talks to succeed;
OIC called upon all OIC member states and their religious scholars and institutions to add their voice to declare the war against the Muslim state and people of Afghanistan illegitimate, that the violence is political and has no Islamic justification and to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and support the peace process.
OIC reiterated its full support and expressed its readiness to extend all necessary
assistance to the people and Government of Afghanistan in achieving lasting peace and prosperity,
OIC called on Member States and the international community to support the Afghan led and Afghan owned inclusive peace and reconciliation process to reach a political solution that is based on the principals of renunciation of violence, cutting ties with all terrorists groups, preservation and advancement of Afghanistan’s democratic, political, socio-economic and development achievements of the past 19 years and respect for the Afghan Constitution which represents the legitimate interests of all Afghans for a peaceful, stable and democratic Afghanistan.
SECURITY:
OIC expressed its support for the Afghan government and its armed forces in the fight against terrorism, welcomed the Afghan government initiatives and efforts in fighting all terrorist groups, including Daesh, and called on the member states to assist in rehabilitating liberated areas destroyed by Deash;
POLITICAL:
OIC reaffirmed its strong support for the Government of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan established following the Presidential election of 2019, and urged the OIC member states and international community to continue their assistance and support to the people and Government of Afghanistan in their efforts to fight terrorism, counter the drug trafficking and achieve security, stability, as well as comprehensive and sustainable development.
OIC expressed its solidarity with and full support to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in its efforts to bring peace, security and inclusive economic development for the Afghan people during the transformation decade from 2015 to 2024;
OIC urged the Member States and the International Community to continue their vigorous support and assistance to the government of Afghanistan and its struggle against terrorism;
ECONOMIC:
OIC welcomed the successful conclusion of the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva, held on 23-24 November 2020, and supporting its communique for the renewal of partnership between the international community and Afghanistan for peace building, state building and market building in Afghanistan.
OIC supported efforts by the international donor community, including members of OIC, to support the successful implementation of the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework-II (ANPDF-II) and Afghanistan Partnership
Framework (APF) as adopted by the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva;
OIC stressed the importance of continued international donor support to the government of Afghanistan for implementation of its pro-poor and inclusive socioeconomic programmes based on its ANPDF-II as agreed at the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva.
REFUGEES:
OIC expressed its deep appreciation to countries, in particular the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran for hosting a large number of Afghan refugees and acknowledges the huge burden they have shouldered in this regard;
OIC called on Member States to protect the rights of the Afghan refugees and avoid their recruitment or use for any kind of political or military purposes.
REGIONAL COOPERATION:
OIC encourages its Member States to support the initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors;
OIC welcomed the efforts of the Governments of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to implement the Mazar-e-Sharif – Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Jalalabad railway projects. The implementation of these projects will play an extremely important role in regional connectivity, economic integration and prosperity;
OIC expressed strong support for TAPI Mega Project as a cornerstone for regional cooperation, aiming at promoting regional economic and social development that virtually connects Central Asia with South Asia, which will help in establishing peace and security in Afghanistan as well as in neighboring countries.
OIC congratulated the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for successful launching of the implementation phase of Central Asia South Asia 1000-Megawatt Power regional project (CASA1000).
OIC appreciated the efforts of Uzbekistan in promoting regional connectivity projects and building international and regional consensus on Afghanistan peace process.
M.A.Ansari
