Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York urged the international community to engage with and support the Taliban instead of isolating them.
In a prerecorded message played by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Quraishi at the UNGA, Khan said the international community should support the Taliban to avoid exacerbation of poverty in that country.
“If we neglect Afghanistan right now, according to the U.N., half the people of Afghanistan are already vulnerable, and by next year almost 90% of the people in Afghanistan will go below the poverty line,” he said.
Khan touched upon the commitments made by the Taliban over respecting human rights, forming an inclusive government and not letting Afghanistan to be used by insurgent groups against any country adding that to fulfill their promises, they need to be incentivized.
“If the world community incentivizes them, encourages them to walk this talk, it will be a win-win situation for everyone,” Khan said.
Khan’s remarks followed the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council who according to UN Secretary General seeks a stable Afghanistan with an inclusive government.
Peace and stability, human rights and women rights, and formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan have been dominant in this year’s UN meeting in addition to climate change and COVID-19.
Slovakia President Zuzana Čaputová addressing the General Assembly said the Afghan women and girls enjoyed their rights in the past two decades adding that this achievement must not be lost.
“Over the past two decades girls and women in Afghanistan, could exercise their legitimate rights. This must not be taken away. Together with the prime minister of Island, the prime minister of New Zealand and other women political leaders, we have launched a call to support Afghan girls and women. I invite you to join forces to ensure these terms into the concrete steps,” she said.
According to her, saving the planet would not be possible when the world leaves behind the must vulnerable: “We cannot save our planet if we leave out the vulnerable — the women, the girls, the minorities,” she said.
The Slovakian president also called for humanitarian support for Afghanistan.
