Tag: OIC

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-Top News Afghanistan Asia News

OIC Snubs Pak Plot To Let Taliban Access Aid Funds

It is unclear if the decisions made by the OIC will make an immediate impact on the ground in Afghanistan, which is in dire need of humanitarian assistance ….reports Asian Lite News

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has set up a humanitarian fund to be operated by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to help avert the humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan, The Express Tribune reported.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi admitted that another reason the fund was set up was because some of the member countries were not willing to channel assistance through the Taliban government, the report said.

The announcement of the fund was part of the measures the 57-member Islamic bloc agreed upon after the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC hosted by Pakistan.

However, it is unclear if the decisions made by the OIC will make an immediate impact on the ground in Afghanistan, which is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, the report said.

The humanitarian fund would channel financial assistance to be provided by member states to Afghanistan.

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The reason the trust fund has been set up is to establish a channel through which assistance could be provided to the people of Afghanistan.

Currently, because of the sanctions imposed by the US and other Western countries, there are no formal banking channels or financial system operating in Afghanistan, the report added.

In the absence of formal banking channels, the countries interested in helping the people of Afghanistan are finding it difficult to do so.

Qureshi, who held a joint news conference along with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, said the establishment of a trust fund would help address that problem.

However, no pledges or donations were made yet to the newly created fund as Qureshi said the fund was just announced and hopefully member countries would start contributing to it soon.

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-Top News PAKISTAN

Act before it’s too late: Imran

Imran Pic credit ANI

While addressing the extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council, Imran opined that if the world doesn’t act now, Afghanistan will be the biggest man-made crisis….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the US to delink the 40 million Afghan citizens from the Taliban and take urgent action to send humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country, Samaa TV reported.

He made the remarks while addressing the extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

He said that the last extraordinary session of the OIC was called to discuss Afghanistan 41 years ago.

Khan opined that if the world doesn’t act now, Afghanistan will be the biggest man-made crisis.

Extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council Pic credits Twitter

“If foreign aid dries up, foreign reserves are frozen, the banking system freezes, any country would collapse, let alone Afghanistan.”

He said that the US has set conditions of human rights, women rights and inclusive government before foreign aid flows to Afghanistan.

“Every society’s idea of human rights and women’s rights are different. When we are talking about human and women rights, we have to be sensitive of cultures.”

He said that the Taliban are ready to comply with these pre-conditions. Unless immediate actions is taken, Afghanistan is heading for chaos, he said.

“Any government unable to pay salaries to its civil servants, hospital, doctors, nurses, it will collapse.”

If the Afghan government doesn’t have the capability to fight terrorism, the Islamic State (IS) terror group will become a threat, he said.

He cautioned the world that the IS is capable of international terrorism and only a stable Afghan government can deal with it.

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-Top News Afghanistan PAKISTAN

OIC meet on Afghanistan kicks off in Pakistan


Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the special moot taking place at Parliament House….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan will on Sunday host the 17th extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers to focus on the current aggravating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Geo News reported.

The session was convened at the insistence of Saudi Arabia as the OIC Summit Chair.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the special moot taking place at Parliament House.

The conference will start with a statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who will chair the session.

The chair of the OIC summit, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud, will then speak to the delegates.

This will be followed by a statement from Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the OIC, statements on behalf of OIC Regional Groups (Asia, Africa, Arab) and a statement by President Islamic Development Bank Dr Muhammad Al-Jasser

Several delegations, including foreign ministers, deputy foreign ministers, foreign secretaries and other senior government officials, have arrived from several countries, including Turkey, Sierra Leone, Somalia, the UAE, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Jordan and Palestine, in Islamabad.

Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is also in the federal capital to attend the special moot, the report said.

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-Top News Arab News

Arab Parliament, OIC condemn IS bombing in Iraq

At least 36 people were killed when a bomb ripped through a crowded Baghdad market…reports Asian Lite News

The Arab Parliament and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a market in Sadr City, a neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, resulting in deaths and injury of dozens of innocent civilians.

At least 36 people were killed when a bomb ripped through a crowded Baghdad market in what the Islamic State group’s jihadists claimed as a suicide attack.

The explosion occurred in the densely populated suburb district of the capital Baghdad. Iraqi security services believe that the explosives were detonated by terrorists. The blast had destroyed several nearby shops and stalls and damaged surrounding buildings.

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi has ordered the resignation of the district’s head of security following the deadly blast.

In a statement, the Arab Parliament expressed its solidarity and full support for Iraq’s leadership, government and people, in its war on terrorism and terrorist groups.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

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It expressed support for all measures it takes to confront these subversive terrorist groups, affirming its firm and supportive stance for the security and stability of Iraq and the safety of its citizens and territorial integrity.

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the terrorist bombing in Iraq.

OIC expressed its standing and solidarity with Iraq in all measures it takes to confront violence, terrorism and extremism.

The organization offered condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, its leadership, government and people, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also strongly condemned the incident.

He extended condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Iraq.

”This deadly attack ahead of the Eid Al Adha holiday is a reminder to us all that the scourge of terrorism knows no bounds,” said Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, in a late-night statement.

The Secretary-General underlines the need for the perpetrators of this crime to be swiftly brought to justice, said the statement.

Deadly bombings have been rare in Baghdad, as the security situation has improved in Iraq since the Iraqi security forces fully defeated IS militants across the country late in 2017.

However, IS remnants have since melted into urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. (with inputs from ANI)

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-Top News Arab News India News

New Delhi rejects OIC offer to assist India-Pak talks

This was days after the OIC Secretary General, Yousef Al-Othaimeen had offered assistance in arranging a meeting between India and Pakistan…reports Asian Lite News

India has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to not allow its platform to be subverted by “vested interests” such as Pakistan to interfere in India’s internal affairs or to carry out propaganda against the country, media reported.

This was days after the OIC Secretary General, Yousef Al-Othaimeen had offered assistance in arranging a meeting between India and Pakistan during a meeting with the Indian envoy to Saudi Arabia. It also proposed to send a delegation to Jammu and Kashmir.

While responding to a question based on the matter, India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi noted that the meeting with the Indian envoy was held in response to an earlier request from the OIC secretary-general, the Hindustan Times reported.

“OIC should be watchful that their platform is not subverted by… vested interests for comments on internal affairs of India or for anti-India propaganda through biased and one-sided resolutions,” the HT quoted Bagchi as saying.

On Monday, the head of the Islamic bloc met the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and discussed a number of issues concerning the situation of Muslims in India, along with the Jammu and Kashmir dispute with Pakistan.

The OIC chief also told the Indian Ambassador, Ausaf Sayeed, about the possibility of a meeting between Pakistan and India, “stating that the General Secretariat stands ready to assist if the two parties would so request”.

During the meeting, the Secretary General discussed “relevant UN and OIC resolutions opposing any unilateral actions on the issue”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has reacted to the meeting stating that OIC’s Secretary General underscored its clear and principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to the Indian envoy.

In a statement issued in response to media queries about the meeting, Pakistan Foreign office stated that the OIC CFM rejected “India’s unilateral actions since August 5, 2019”.

“The meeting between the OIC Secretary General and the Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia on July 5 at the OIC’s General Secretariat in Jeddah took place in the context of the mandate afforded by Resolution 10/47-Pol of the 47th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. The Secretary General underscored the OIC’s principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute during the meeting,” read a statement issued by the Pakistan Foreign Office.

“The OIC CFM in Niamey in November 2020 categorically rejected India’s unilateral actions since August 5, 2019. It also demanded that India rescind its illegal actions and respect the inalienable rights of the Kashmiri people to self-determination, as promised by numerous UNSC resolutions,” the statement added.

Highlighting the resolutions of the OIC, the statement maintained that “the OIC resolutions, inter alia, call on the Secretary General to dispatch a fact-finding mission to IIOJK to ascertain the situation on ground and report its findings to the next CFM. The CFM resolutions also call on the Secretary General to take up the matter with the Indian authorities”.

Pakistan maintains that India has ignored various OIC resolutions and “evaded its responsibility of protecting the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people”.

However, it was the first time that the “principled position of the 57 OIC member states has been duly conveyed to India”.

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Categories
Arab News Saudi Arabia

OIC welcomes Saudi decision to hold Hajj this year

The Kingdom successfully managed the annual Hajj pilgrimage last year without compromising on the pilgrims’ safety and health amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic…reports Asian Lite News

The secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, lauded the Saudi Arabia’s decision to hold this year’s Hajj amid strict COVID-19 safety measures to ensure pilgrims’ safety.

Al-Othaimeen praised the Kingdom’s leadership for their efforts to serve the pilgrims, the Arab News reported.

He said Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to the health and safety of pilgrims and visitors to the two holy mosques, it was reported.

The Kingdom successfully managed the annual Hajj pilgrimage last year without compromising on the pilgrims’ safety and health amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The OIC chief lauded the Saudi authorities for utilizing all resources to serve pilgrims.

It was on Sunday, Saudi Arabia had announced its plan to hold this year’s Haj pilgrimage under Covid safety measures that will ensure preserving the health and safety of the worshippers.

The health authorities in the Kingdom continue to assess conditions and take all measures to protect the health and well-being of the public, state media quoted the Ministry of Haj and Umrah as saying on Sunday.

It added that organisation details of the Haj season will be announced later, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ministry did not mention whether foreign pilgrims will be allowed to attend this season.

The Kingdom had organised an exceptional Haj season last year with a limited number of pilgrims as part of precautionary measures against the spread of Covid-19.

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