ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday applauded the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for unanimously adopting a resolution to facilitate humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after hosting a special session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the same issue on December 19.
The UNSC resolution was proposed by the United States to avert a humanitarian disaster in the war-battered country that faces an economic meltdown.
It allowed the world community to offer the required assistance to the Afghan people while keeping funds out of Taliban hands.
"Pakistan welcomes the adoption, by consensus, of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2615, that has reaffirmed that provision of humanitarian and other assistance to people of Afghanistan is not a violation of the Security Council Sanctions regime," said Pakistan's foreign ministry in an official statement. "The resolution comes at a critical time, and reflects the sense of urgency felt by the international community to help the Afghan people, who have suffered immensely due to decades of conflict."
The statement added the same sentiment was also reflected at the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers last week which called for swift roll out of all possible humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
It described the UNSC resolution as "a step in the right direction," saying it should be followed by "unfreezing of assets that rightfully belong to the Afghan people."
The United States and other donor countries cut off financial assistance to Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power in August, isolating the country from the global financial system which paralyzed its banks.
The ensuing situation made the United Nations issue a warning that nearly 23 million Afghans could face extreme levels of hunger, and nine million of them could be at risk of famine.
Pakistan said it hoped the international community, especially the donor states, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, international financial institutions and other emergency relief providers, would act with determination to provide all possible assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
