Youth Council Pakistan arranged an International Conference on “Humanitarian Crisis In
Afghanistan” on the sideline of the 17th Extra-Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Islamabad on 19th December 2021.
Lt. General (R) Abdul Qayyum HI (M) inaugurated the conference with his opening speech. He began by recognizing the efforts and work of Youth Council Pakistan under the visionary leadership of
President Muhammad Shehzad Khan. He said, “After sanctioning the nine billion dollars of a
Landlocked country-Afghanistan, the West has done unjustly by abandoning Afghanistan.
The OIC members should recognize Afghanistan to end the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.” He further added that Afghanistan’s economy depends upon foreign aids, and the international community should come forward to help them on humanitarian grounds.
Sajid Iqbal Khattak, a Ph.D. research scholar, said that the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan is a test case for the so-called liberal champions of Human Rights and International Human Rights Institutions. He said, “The only country responsible for the current situation of Afghanistan is the United States that took wrong decisions after 9/11”. He further added that the 9 billion dollars that the US freeze does not belong to the Taliban; instead, it is the asset of the common Afghan people. The Taliban government is the reality of Afghanistan, and the Muslim World should engage them to help the people of Afghanistan.
Ambassador Dr. Shahid Amin Khan, Chairman of the International Human Rights Commission, began his speech by thanking YCP to engage policymakers, academicians, and key stakeholders on the crucial issue of the Humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Due to the forty years of war in Afghanistan, a human catastrophe is going on. “The people of Afghanistan are not the only victims of the current situation in Afghanistan, but the countries which are hosting Afghan refugees are also suffering.” He further added that it is the responsibility of the international community to manage the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, and the problem must not spill over to the whole region.
Miss Amna Akhtar, Program Manager of HSF Student Scholarship Program (For Afghan Students in Pakistan) at Hanns Seidel Foundation Pakistan, introduced the efforts of HSF Pakistan for Democracy, Peace, and Development for the people of Pakistan. She shared some statistics about the violation of human rights and the refugee crisis in Afghanistan. She also introduced the HSF scholarship program provides scholarships to Afghan students in Pakistan. The Afghan students in Pakistan will get a university education and personal training. She said that the program covers the entire duration of undergraduate and graduate education in the HEC recognized universities in Pakistan. She further added that HSF’s main objective is to train Afghan students in Pakistan to play the role of bridge between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the end, she said that it is the fundamental right of the people of Afghanistan to decide the form of government and their future.
Mr. Imran Khan, Research Scholar at Area study center the University of Peshawar shared his views on the current unfolding crisis in Afghanistan. He classified his thoughts about the reasons for the everyday situations in four structural points, which are as follows regional countries, especially China, and Russia are not adequately responding to the crisis in Afghanistan. The diversity of political systems in the region has further exacerbated the situation and has played a role of an obstacle to bringing them together on the issue. The challenges to the American liberal world order from this region in the form of China have put Afghanistan on the chessboard of the Great Power Politics. The absence of political legitimacy of the Taliban has further exacerbated the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. Therefore, this region needs an everlasting solution, and China and Russia must the lead in this regard.
Muhammad Shehzad Khan, President YCP said that Pakistan has always maintained that the continued engagement of the international community with Afghanistan is imperative, and hosting of the CFM is another manifestation of Pakistan’s intense diplomatic outreach to consolidate support for the people of Afghanistan. The 17th Extraordinary Session reflects Pakistan’s abiding commitment and consistent efforts to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and the continued well-being of the Afghan people. The Extraordinary session would provide an opportunity to consider practical and concrete steps to help address the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people.
The concluding remarks of the conference were given by Raja Najabat Hussain, the chairman of JKSDMI. He requested the Muslim Ummah in specific and the international community, in general, to recognize the Taliban’s government to put an end to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. In the end, he thanked team YCP for organizing such a time-needed conference on the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.
Members of YCP; Arshia Mahgul, Saqib Naeem, Ali Mujahid, and Maryam Akhtar also shared their views on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
