Representanter för de flesta av OIC:s medlemsländer samlades i Islamabad den 18-19 december för ett extra utrikesministermöte om den Humanitära situationen i Afghanistan. OIC grundades 1969 och är, med sina 57 medlemsländer med sammanlagt 1,8 miljarder invånare, en av de största världsorganisationerna vid sidan av FN. Till mötet som sammankallats av Pakistan kom 437 representanter inklusive från gästländer, FN och internationella organisationer. En delegation från Afghanistans Talibanregering deltog under ledning av dess utrikesminister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Han deltog i förmötet den 17.12 och hade också ett möte med Pakistans utrikesminister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
På öppningsdagen den 17.12 för OIC:s konferenshelg talade David Beasley, VD för Världslivsmedelsprogrammet (WFP) i amerikanska National Public Radio och beskrev situationen i Afghanistan i mycket skarpa ordalag. Han talade från sitt högkvarter i Rom just hemkommen från Kabul. ”Av 42 miljoner invånare går 23 miljoner mot svält. Jag menar att de är i allvarliga problem … 95% har inte tillräckligt med mat att äta. [Av de 23 miljonerna] står ungefär 9 miljoner vid dörren till svält när jag talar nu. Det är helvetet på jorden! Och nu är vintermånaderna där.” Jag har talat med mödrar som ”måste välja ’ifall jag överhuvudtaget har pengar, skall jag då köpa bränsle till matlagning eller till värme? Skall ja låta mitt barn frysa ihjäl eller skall ja låta mitt barn svälta ihjäl?’ Det är vad de står inför nu …”
“Vad vi har är en 40 procentig minskning av veteproduktionen efter torkan och sedan nedgången i ekonomin pga. COVID. Utöver det har vi brist på [finansiell] likviditet eftersom det internationella samfundet har fryst alla tillgångar som landet normalt skull ha tillgängliga … ”
Situation i Afghanistan ropar på samlade insatser. Vad som behöver göras – inte bara där utan i hela Central- och Sydvästasien – presenterades av Schillerinstitutet i fyra olika gästpaneler i pakistanska TV:s särskilda debattprogram inför den stora OIC-konferensen. Först talade Schillerinstitutets ordförande Helga Zepp-LaRouche starkt för sitt upprop för en Operation Ibn Sina i Afghanistan, uppkallad efter den store islamiske filosofen och läkaren från regionen. Sedan talade Hussein Askary, sydvästasienkoordinator för Schillerinstitutet om vad utvidgningen av initiativet för att bygga ut Belt and Road i hela regionen kan betyda. https://schillerinstitutet.se/schillerinstitutet-ingriper-i-afghanistankrisen/
och på engelska hela uttalandena: https://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2021/12/19/pakistan-tv-special-broadcast-on-oic-extraordinary-meeting-on-afghanistan-gets-briefing-from-helga-zepp-larouche-hussein-askary/
Dagen efter, som var konferensens andra dag, talade Harley Schlanger, från Tyskland för Schillerinstitutet på en annan PTV-panel. Schlanger hyllade både Pakistan och OIC för att ta ledande roller i organiseringen av hjälpinsatserna för Afghanistan. Själv förespråkade han tre steg: 1) Frisläppning av afghanska regeringens utlandstillgångar; 2) Mobilisering av nödhjälp; och 3) Ett utspel om en långsiktig målsättning för fullskalig ekonomisk utveckling. Han pekade på att sedan biljoner dollar spenderats på kriget, som är orsaken till krisen, måste USA och Europa kunna göra en stor insats för att få fram mat och medicin med hela den logistikkapacitet man byggt upp för materieltransporterna för krigsinsatserna. (https://youtu.be/_sb7eD5sLdc)
Karel Vereycken, talade från partiet Solidaritet & Framsteg, Paris, i nästa PTV-panel på en timme. Han pekade på betydelsen av mötet med den “Utvidgade Trojkan” — USA, Ryssland, Kina och Pakistan—som skulle ske den 20 december dagen efter OIC-konferensen. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td7T64hPNq0)
Vad OIC beslutade.
Resultatet av OIC-konferensen blev ett viktigt steg av kraftig aktivering av organisationen för Afghanistan. Generalsekreteraren för OIC (Organization for Islamic Cooperation) Hissein Brahim Taha presenterade hur man skulle samordna en humanitär insats med de olika OIC-kontoren oh hjälporganisationer över hela den muslimska världen. Han pekade på att OIC-kontoret I Kabul måste förstärkas “finansiellt, personellt och logistiskt för att kunna leva upp till sitt fulla ansvar för att koordinera den humanitär hjälpen och utvecklingsinsatserna”. Vid avslutningen av OIC:s ministerrådsmöte uppdrog Taha åt Tariq Ali Bakheet, Vice generalsekreterare för OIC för Humanitära, Kulturella och Sociala frågor, till att vara han särskilda sändebud till Afghanistan. På OIC:s hemsida står det också att Bakheet har till uppdrag ”att sköta det ekonomiska och politiska samarbetet med Afghanistan.”
Enligt Tribune Express, deltog i OIC:s extraordinära session på söndagen också representanter för FN, IFI’s (internationella finansinstitutioner, som IMF/Världsbanken), internationella och regionala organisationer, och icke-OIC medlemmar—inklusive P5, EU, Tyskland och Japan. Andra uttalanden kom också från OIC:s Regionala grupper från Asien, Afrika och Arabvärlden, liksom från ordföranden för den Islamiska Utvecklingsbanken, Dr. Muhammad al-Jasser.
Enligt en resolution sista dagen i beslutade OIC att upprätta en gemensam humanitär fond att förvaltas av just denna bank för att vara den kanal som skulle kunna förmedla humanitär hjälp till Afghanistan, inklusive i partnerskap med andra internationella aktörer.
Enligt en rapport från Al Jazeera den 19.12 skulle också den Islamiska Utvecklingsbanken leda ansträngningarna att kunna frigöra de afghanska nationella reserverna under första kvartalet 2022. Detta verkar syfta på de beslagtagna valutareserverna i USA och Europa.
Viktiga tal hölls på OIC konferensen av Pakistans premiärminister Imran Khan, utrikesminister Shah Mahmood Qureshi och Afghanistans utrikesminister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
OIC har med denna konferens seglat upp till att bli en ny viktig faktor som samlar många länder i världen bakom insatser för att får stop på svältkatastrofen och den totala finansiella kollapsen i Afghanistan. Andra viktiga aktörer är flera stora initiativ i USA, bl.a. ifrån grupper av kongressledamöter för att USA skall frigöra landets frysta tillgångar.
Läs om Schillerinstitutets initiativ Operation Ibn Sina genom Kommittén för motsatsernas sammanfallande https://schillerinstitutet.se/afghanska-humanitara-krisen-nu-varst-i-varlden-stod-operation-ibn-sina/
Läs här på engelska sammanfattning av besluten på OIC-mötet. https://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2021/12/21/the-oic-commits-to-coordinated-aid-to-afghanistan-now-for-world-action-our-historical-mission/
Läs nedan sammanfattningar på engelska av några av talen och aktioner i USA för att frigöra de Afghanska valutareserverna.
OIC in the new paradigm
The OIC, with its 57 member states, has so far been ineffective in safeguarding the rights of Muslim nations in the face of political, economic, and military challenges, due largely to the fact that many members have been “client states” of major powers, that have pitted many of these nations against each other in never-ending geopolitical conflicts. However, the current situation in Afghanistan, which marks the end of a terrible era of geopolitics, demands a fresh view of the world and times ahead.
The new paradigm in international relations, exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the emergence of Asia, China in particular, as major economic players in the world, is key to the situation here. According to AP Pakistan, there was an urgent appeal made for large-scale projects in the region. Overall, this should include energy, transportation, and communication projects, that will integrate Afghanistan into the New Silk Road through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China-Central Asia-West Asia Corridor.
Taliban leaders have also expressed their willingness and Afghanistan’s need to join the New Silk Road and work with China and other nations to rebuild the country’s infrastructure. Importantly,
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Outlines Roadmap for Afghanistan
Dec. 19 (EIRNS)—Pakistan’s MInister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi hosted foreign ministers in Islamabad today for the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where he called for urgent measures to ensure food security and economic revival for Afghanistan. This was the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC, called on short notice to deal with the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Afghanistan.
After describing the horrible and quickly degenerating situation, and citing material from both the World Food Program and other UN agencies, Qureshi focused upon immediate investment in education and the professional sector. This had to be done “both bilaterally” amongst individual states and “through the OIC platform.” He called for mechanisms for sustainable humanitarian and financial support to the government, and announced that the OIC was establishing an expert group of OIC and UN representatives to restore the banking sector.
Qureshi described how coordination on anti-terrorism, and on the ensuring of political and social inclusion, especially women, was to proceed hand-in-hand. He observed that the “gathering of OIC leaders at a short notice also reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan…. It is a moment to stand up for the Afghan people and they must be supported without any condition.” [dms]
Pakistan’s Imran Khan Warns U.S.: Afghanistan Needs a Solution or Everyone Is in Danger
Dec. 19 (EIRNS)—Pakistan’s Prime MInister Imran Khan addressed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) today, hosted in Islamabad, warning that the failure to act is leading towards the biggest “man-made disaster” and that “chaos suits no one—it certainly does not suit the United States.” He called for a roadmap to solve, short-term, medium-term and long-term Afghanistan’s situation, a country that has suffered from 40 years of war, plus drought, pandemic and terrorism.
In his brief 15-minute presentation, he stated some obvious truths. Healthcare and education sectors are in shambles. “Any government, when it cannot pay salaries to public servants, doctors and nurses, is going to collapse.” If Afghan government’s dearth of resources undercuts their ability to counter terrorism, there may be a spillover impact. Pakistan knows, as they have been in the frontline of such spillover. Pakistan has suffered 80,000 killed, has had their economy shattered, had 3.5 million people displaced within their country, and has the burden of a quarter-million refugees, and counting.
Further, the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, the enemy of the Taliban, has caused terror attacks inside Pakistan, but is capable of international attacks. The U.S. and Western suspension of foreign aid and the freezing of foreign assets means a collapse of the country and chaos. The OIC must act, but the world must not link its support for Afghan people with the Taliban. Rather, the world must think of the 40 million Afghans heading towards disaster.
Indeed, the Taliban also needs to understand that inclusivity, human rights especially for women, and anti-terrorism will pave the way for international aid. Khan said that in his meeting with Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had categorically assured as much to him. Therefore, a roadmap is necessary from the OIC, and the U.S. should join in—because, he warned again, not stabilizing Afghanistan affects everyone. [dms]
Taliban Foreign Minister Affirms, Afghanistan Can Be a ‘Hub of Regional Economic Connectivity’
Dec. 19 (EIRNS)—Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi addressed the Organization for Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers today, stating that the Taliban government is ready to “listen to and accept all requests, concerns and advice of Islamic countries in relation to Afghanistan that can lead towards a proper and just roadmap and direct us out of the current crisis.” We, “as a representative and responsible government of the Afghan people, consider human rights, women rights and participation by all capable Afghans from various regions our duty. We have done much in this regard and will continue to take further steps.” He said that the leader of the Islamic Emirate recently announced a decree on the rights of women which shall prove instrumental in moving forward.
However, he explained that the media distort things. He asserted that there were no political prisoners. Also: “Five-hundred thousand civil servants from the former regime are continuing to work in the various departments of the Islamic Emirate and none are treated in a discriminatory or vindictive manner.” There are “people from all ethnicities, regions and faiths…. We remain committed to broadening by providing favorable opportunity of participation for professionals from all ethnicities and faiths.” And corruption has been eliminated. Further: “The new government exercising control over the entire country … does not pose a threat to any world country….” He stated that there Afghanistan is not a base for terrorism.
Muttaqi called for global powers to “support the prevailing stability and back it both politically and economically” and for international investors, “specifically those from Islamic countries, to begin investments in Afghanistan…. As a result of the prevalent security, Afghanistan can now transform into a hub of regional economic connectivity…. At a time when our people have been devastated by wars, drought, the Covid-19 pandemic and poverty, as billions of our dollar reserves have been frozen, and the suspension of development and assistance project” by the IMF, World Bank, the Asian Development Bank “and other institutes, have led to health, education and social services teetering on the brink, all of this has only harmed the general public…. The sanctions on Afghanistan and freezing of assets by the United States of America is harming the Afghans, is a clear violation of the human rights of Afghans and can be interpreted as enmity with an entire nation.” U.S. officials need reminding “that persecution of Afghans and weakening of the Afghan government is not in the interest of anyone…. Such actions harm American prestige and exacerbate the refugee crisis, the detrimental effects of which will not spare the wider world.” [dms]
India Hosts Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Afghanistan
Dec. 19 (EIRNS)—Simultaneous with the Organization for Islamic Cooperation summit in Pakistan, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar hosted an India-Central Asia Dialogue today in New Delhi, on the future of Afghanistan. The meeting had been pre-scheduled, before the OIC extraordinary session in Pakistan was announced.
Foreign ministers from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were in attendance. Jaishankar declared: “Our concerns and objectives in that country are similar. We must find ways of helping the people of Afghanistan.” India has invested approximately $3 billion in Afghanistan.
The Chabahar port route, a link from the Central Asian countries to India, was on the docket. (Chabahar, in southeastern Iran, abuts Pakistan’s Gwadar port.) India has supported a North-South corridor of highways and railways from Chabahar to Russia, going through Central Asia.
Prior to the Dialogue session, Jaishankar met with Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirajuddiin Muhridin. Tajikistan has been hosting members of the “National Resistance Force” of Afghanistan’s former Vice President Amarullah Saleh and of Ahmed Massoud.
The foreign ministers are expected to have a joint courtesy visit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before they depart Dec. 20. [dms]
Dr. Shah Mehrabi to EIR: U.S. Policy Is “Suffocating” the Afghan People
Dec. 16, 2021 (EIRNS)—Dr. Shah Mehrabi, the economist who has served on the Board of the Afghanistan Central Bank since 2002, in a Dec. 15 interview with EIR, characterized the freezing of Afghanistan’s $9.5 billion of reserves being held in the U.S. Federal Reserve and several European banks as illegal and immoral, punishing not the Taliban but the Afghan people. Most Afghans have experienced war nearly all of their lives, he said, and now that there is peace, the freezing of the funds and the imposition of sanctions are “suffocating” the people, creating famine and misery, and many deaths from disease and starvation.
Some of his points:
The denial of access of the funds belonging to the Central Bank has already caused a 14% devaluation of the currency, which will rapidly get much worse, as they are almost out of funds to defend it at all. Soon the people’s savings will be rendered worthless.
Inflation is horrendous: 74% for gas; 20% for wheat; 30% for flour.
Having been denied access to the SWIFT system by sanctions, foreign trade has essentially stopped. Even trade with Pakistan has declined by half.
Humanitarian aid is needed, but by-passing the banking system means it is at best short-term, doing nothing to fix the problem.
Claiming the sanctions and freezing of funds are due to the Taliban’s treatment of women and children makes no sense, since the actions of those withholding the funds are killing women and children. If not reversed immediately, there will soon be millions of women, carrying their babies in their arms, walking out of the country to Iran, with hopes of reaching Turkey and Europe.
The Afghan people are being punished, while the policy does not harm the Taliban, who are cooperating with the Central Bank.
The proposal to by-pass the Central Bank by establishing a private bank to take over its functions is unworkable—commercial banks need profit, and cannot serve as a lender of last resort, while they will not have the trust of the population. Doing so would destroy the trust that exists in the Central Bank.
The UNAMA (UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) already has a bad name in Afghanistan. Now the UN, despite warning that the banking system is collapsing and is needed to run humanitarian assistance, nevertheless has delivered two gifts of $16 million each in aid, but by-passed the Central Bank.
The two-page letter from members of Congress to Biden to release the funds now has 23 endorsers in the House and Senate, while Dr. Mehrabi continues to meet with members and staffers to gain more support. The letter has not yet been released.
He fully supports Helga Zepp-LaRouche’s call for Project Ibn Sina. The health situation is drastic, since the entire system was supported by the World Bank which has cut off all funds. The Covid pandemic is out of control. As to the clean water and electricity needed for health care, they are essentially non-existent. Ibn Sina is indeed beloved in the country, as evident by the main hospital in Kabul being named Ibn Sina Hospital.
The U.S. policy is not only short-sighted, but represents the “final abandonment of the Afghan people.”
OIC Pledges a Development Fund and Central Banking Services by ISDB
Dec. 20 (EIRNS)—At the conclusion of the extraordinary conference on Afghanistan of the Organization of the Islamic Conference held in Pakistan, the OIC “decided to establish a humanitarian trust fund, under the aegis of the Islamic Development Bank Group, to serve as a vehicle to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan including in partnership with other international actors.” It was announced by the host Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if not also by other organizations.
Moreover AP Pakistan reported Dec. 19 that “an OIC resolution released after the meeting said the Islamic Development Bank would lead the effort to free up assistance by the first quarter of 2022.” This appears to refer to “freeing up” the Afghan national reserve funds blocked and effectively seized by the U.S. Treasury and certain European banks responding to U.S. sanctions. The Nation of Pakistan put it in a roundabout way in its Dec. 20 coverage: “The OIC decided that a process will be commenced with the UN system organizations to devise a road map for mobilizing actions at the relevant fora to unlock the financial and banking channels to resume liquidity and flow of financial and humanitarian assistance.”
