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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday welcomed foreign delegations for the upcoming Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) moot in Islamabad, saying that the extraordinary session was an expression of solidarity with the Afghan people.
“I welcome delegations from OIC member states, observers, friends, partners and international organisations to Pakistan,” the premier wrote on his official Twitter handle.
The prime minister said that the extraordinary session was an expression of solidarity with the Afghan people and to focus on “our collective energies on addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan”. “I look forward to speaking at the Conference,” he added.
I welcome delegations from OIC mbr states, observers, friends, partners & int orgs to Pakistan. The extraordinary session of OIC CFMs is an expression of solidarity with the Afghan ppl & to focus our collective energies on addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 18, 2021
Pakistan is all set to host the OIC foreign ministers moot in Islamabad on Sunday. The session is being convened at the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the OIC Summit Chair. Pakistan welcomed the call and offered to host the session.
Besides the foreign ministers from the OIC member states and observers, participants would also include special invitees from the United Nations, international financial institutions and some non-member states, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the EU.
The meeting is being convened against the backdrop of aggravating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The session would provide an opportunity to consider practical and concrete steps to help address the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people.
Arrival of foreign dignitaries
Meanwhile, foreign dignitaries continued to arrive in Pakistan ahead of the OIC summit. Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Islamabad on Saturday and was welcomed by federal minister Ali Mohammad Khan and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmed Khan.
Foreign Minister of Bosnia Dr Bisera Turkovic, Foreign Minister of Malaysia Saifuddin Abdullah and Foreign Minister of Indonesia Retno Marsudi also arrived in the capital earlier in the day. They were welcomed by Defence Production Minister Zubaida Jalal, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
In addition, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Nuryshev Shakhrat and Special Representative of Germany for Afghanistan Ambassador Jasper Wieck also reached the country. Later, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West also reached Islamabad.
