ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to provide all-out support to the Afghan people and warned the international community that disengaging with Afghanistan would be disadvantageous for the whole world.

These views were expressed during the second meeting of the Apex Committee on Afghanistan, presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The meeting was attended by Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Adviser on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yousaf and senior civil and military officers.

Participants of the meeting expressed concern over deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and emphasised that Pakistan would not abandon the Afghans in their time of need.

According to the PM Office (PMO), Mr Khan said Pakistan would support Afghan people in every possible way to avert humanitarian crisis.

Pakistan is hosting on Sunday extraordinary session of foreign ministers of OIC countries to highlight issue

He was quoted as saying: “I hope that the world with not repeat the mistake of disengaging with Afghanistan and the international community will support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan.”

The prime minister highlighted that Pakistan had already pledged an immediate relief in the shape of humanitarian assistance worth Rs5 billion. The package comprised food items, including 50,000 tonnes of wheat, emergency medical supplies and winter shelters.

The apex committee was briefed that as per directives of the prime minister the facility of free Covid-19 vaccination for the Afghans entering Pakistan from land border was being continued. The process of obtaining Pakistani visa has been simplified for the Afghans.

Prime Minister Khan said that humanitarian organisations wishing to work from Pakistan to support efforts in Afghanistan should be facilitated as Pakistan had already committed to being the air and land bridge for humanitarian support to Afghanistan.

On Sunday, Pakistan is hosting an extraordinary session of foreign ministers of member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Islamabad to highlight the plight of vulnerable Afghan people in these testing times and to discuss ways for helping them.

The federal cabinet on Tuesday decided to make process of obtaining Pakistani visa easier for the officials of international NGOs working for the welfare of Afghan people.

This decision has been made on humanitarian grounds and for helping people of Afghanistan. The government will also facilitate registration process of international NGOs working for welfare and assistance of the Afghan people. Similarly, the process of obtaining Pakistani visas for the Afghans has been further eased.

The facility for Afghans migrating to other countries through Pakistan has been extended for another 60 days. This facility includes travel by land and air routes.

In a meeting with a four-member delegation of the US Senate comprising Senators Angus King, Richard Burr, John Cornyn and Benjamin Sasse, which recently visited Pakistan, the prime minister reiterated that a deeper and stronger partnership between the two countries was mutually

beneficial and critical for the region’s peace, security and prosperity.

With regard to the evolving situation in Afghanistan, PM Khan emphasised that Pakistan and the US must have deeper engagement to promote shared objectives of peace, stability and economic development. He particularly underscored the urgent need to support the Afghan people by taking all possible measures to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.

Recalling collective struggles of Pakistan and the US over the decades in promoting peace and security globally, the senators appreciated Pakistan’s recent contribution to evacuation of American nationals and others from Afghanistan after August 15 takeover of Taliban.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2021