Taliban Urges OIC to Increase Aid to Afghanistan

The Taliban administration says Abdul Salam Hanafi, deputy prime minister for administrative affairs, has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to increase its assistance to Afghanistan in various sectors.

Hamdullah Fitrat, a spokesman for the Taliban administration, said in a statement on Sunday, 19 October, that Tariq Ali Bakhit, the OIC’s special representative for Afghanistan, stressed during the meeting the continuation of the organisation’s aid in humanitarian, educational and health sectors.

According to Bakhit, several projects are under way in Afghanistan in cooperation with the OIC. He also said the problems that have emerged between Afghanistan and some neighbouring countries should be resolved through dialogue and understanding.

Meanwhile, Abdul Salam Hanafi, in addition to calling for more aid, stressed the need for greater attention to “alternative livelihood programmes” in the wake of anti-drug measures.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an intergovernmental body made up of Muslim countries that, in recent years, especially after political changes in Afghanistan, has announced part of its aid and programmes in the country under humanitarian and support activities.