MONITORING (SW) – Afghanistan has welcomed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s support demonstrated by the block through a number of resolutions at the 47th Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Niamey, Niger.
The OIC called on the Ulema and religious institutions across its member states to declare the war against the Muslim state and people of Afghanistan illegitimate and call for the support of the peace talks. Reflecting collective support of the Islamic world for the Afghan peace talks, the resolutions adopted at the conference explicitly welcomed the start of the Afghan peace talks and commended the Afghan Government’s good will gesture of the release of the Taliban prisoners.
Condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan – particularly those targeting civilians such as the recent attack in Bamyan, Kabul University, Kosar training centre and the maternity hospital in Kabul – the OIC called on the Taliban to reduce violence and agree to an immediate ceasefire.
The OIC has, as an institution, reiterated its full support and commitment to the peace talks in Afghanistan and has asked the international community to do the same. It specifically asked states to support an Afghan owned inclusive peace process, to reach a political solution based on the renunciation of violence, cutting ties with terrorist groups, preservation and advancement of the Afghanistan’s democratic, political and socio-economic and development achievements of the past 19 years and respect of the Afghan Constitution – benefiting all Afghans, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The OIC restated its support to the Afghan Government in its efforts to bring peace, both through the peace talks and through the work of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in their fight against terrorism. The OIC welcomed the successful renewal of the partnership between the international community and Afghanistan through the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva, especially in ensuring economic and social development in Afghanistan, it added.
The OIC and its member states documented their support of various regional economic and infrastructure initiatives that aim to enhance corporation between Afghanistan and its neighbors. These include the trans-Afghanistan railway project, TAPI Mega project and CASA 1000 regional power project.
The Government of Afghanistan appreciated the OIC resolutions and valued them as the refection of the collective Islamic international community’s viewpoint.
END
