Thank you very much for organizing this event in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).
Afghanistan witnessed a watershed event on 15 August 2021. Since then, the interim Afghan Government has remained embattled with humanitarian and economic crisis, as well as a liquidity crunch, exacerbated by lack of a functional banking system.
At the same time, the positive aspects are internal stability, no civil war, opening of girls’ schools, and interim government’s commitment to address terrorism.
Afghanistan currently stands at a critical crossroads. For the first time in over 40 years there is a single unified dispensation over its entire territory.
Four decades of war and bloodshed are over.
There has been a demonstrable decrease in corruption, leading to increase in revenue.
Hence there is hope that Afghanistan has the potential to move towards a viable and sustainable future.
Therefore, the immediate task that the international community, in general, and regional countries in particular need to focus on, is the stabilization of the country.
If the wheels of the economy remain jammed, the gains can be reversed. We must not allow that to happen again.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Pakistan has always advocated consistent engagement with Afghanistan.
At this critical juncture, the importance of delinking humanitarian assistance from political considerations cannot be overstated.
The situation in Afghanistan has a wide-ranging impact on the region and beyond.
Pakistan believes that continued engagement between the interim Afghan government and the international community would help ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for Afghanistan.
If the international community repeats its mistakes of the past and abandons Afghanistan, the fallout would not only affect our region but will be felt globally.
Besides the immediate need to avert a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, we also have to focus on long-term infrastructure and connectivity projects in Afghanistan.
In the long run, Afghanistan has the potential to develop as the trade and energy corridor for the region.
We are working with Afghanistan in following up on key infrastructure and connectivity projects, a facilitative regime to assist the easy movement of people and goods across the border, and to augment the capacity of Afghan institutions.
Pakistan, being a neighboring country has a major stake in the peace and stability of Afghanistan.
Pakistan established the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan forum to forge a regional consensus regarding Afghanistan.
Pakistan has been a key partner in all Afghanistan-centered mechanisms for assisting our Afghan brethrens in these testing times.
Pakistan hosted the Troika Plus meeting and the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC-CFM on the situation in Afghanistan.
Pakistan also successfully hosted the regular session of OIC-CFM in Islamabad on 22-23 March 2022.
Pakistan has pledged in-kind humanitarian assistance of Rs. 5 billion (around $ 30 million) to Afghanistan.
Pakistan is acting as a channel to facilitate the flow of international humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
We have even enabled India to supply 50,000 MT wheat to Afghanistan by allowing it transit facility.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Stability in Afghanistan is a critical for prosperity of South Asia and the wider world.
Afghanistan must not be seen through a regional prism, but as a shared and collective responsibility.
Instability in Afghanistan will have negative consequences for the entire world.
Failure is not an option. If the world community fails Afghanistan yet again, it will result in a fresh influx of refugees, enhanced space for terrorism and a rise in drug trafficking.
The emergence of new conflicts does not mean that the world can afford to forget old ones. The wounds of 40 years of war and bloodshed in Afghanistan will take a long time to heal.
However, we have no doubt that with the help of regional countries and international partners, the proud Afghan nation can once again rise to become an important country in terms of regional peace and stability, economic trade and regional connectivity.
I thank you all.
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