Islamic world pitches ways to aid desperately poor Afghans

PAKISTAN: Muslim nations pledged on Sunday to set up a fund to help Afghanistan avert an imminent economic collapse they say would have a “horrendous” global impact.

At a special meeting in Pakistan of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), delegates also resolved to work with the United Nations to try to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen Afghan assets.

The promised fund will provide humanitarian aid through the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which would provide a cover for countries to donate without dealing directly with the country’s Taliban rulers.

An OIC resolution released after the meeting said the IDB would lead the effort to free up assistance by the first quarter of next year.

The meeting was the biggest conference on Afghanistan since the US-backed Government fell in August and the Taliban returned to power.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier warned of chaos if the worsening emergency was not urgently addressed.

“Unless action is taken immediately, Afghanistan is heading for chaos,” Khan told he meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Islamabad.

The crisis is causing mounting alarm but the international response has been muted, given Western reluctance to help the Taliban government, which seized power in August. – ARAB NEWS