Washington [US], October 13 (ANI): US President Joe Biden and the other G20 leaders agreed during a virtual meeting to provide humanitarian aid directly to the Afghan people instead via the Taliban government, the White House said on Tuesday. “The Leaders also reaffirmed their collective commitment to provide humanitarian assistance directly to the Afghan people through independent international organizations, and to promote fundamental human rights for all Afghans, including women, girls and members of minority groups,” the White House said in a statement.
This comes after the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan. Italy was the host of the meeting as the holder of the rotating G20 presidency. This statement comes amid the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban‘s takeover in August and the subsequent formation of the interim government.
The United States remains committed to working with international partners and using diplomatic, humanitarian and economic means to support Afghans, the statement said. Since the Taliban‘s takeover of Afghanistan, only a handful of countries including China and Pakistan have shown inclination towards wider recognition of the outfit. Meanwhile, the rest of the international community is taking a wait-and-watch approach.(ANI)
G20 countries voice support for continued UN presence in Afghanistan
Rome [Italy], October 12 (ANI/Sputnik): The leaders of the G20 countries called on Tuesday for a permanent United Nations presence in Afghanistan, insisting on safety for the organization’s personnel, the Italian government said.
Earlier in the day, the G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Meeting on Afghanistan was convened in a virtual format in Rome. It was held in an extended format and included representatives from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Russia was represented at the meeting by Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and the Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov.
“The UN plays an essential role to address the crisis in Afghanistan. Its continued presence in the country must be preserved,” the meeting’s chair said in a summary statement. The G20 countries also expressed their support for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, including its role in coordination of international aid. “The G20 calls on the Afghan authorities to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of all UN and associated personnel, as well as all the Diplomatic Missions staff and humanitarian workers throughout the country,” the group added.
In mid-August, the Taliban (terrorist group, outlawed in Russia) entered Kabul. The last province to resist the group, Panjshir, surrendered on September 6. As international troops withdrew from the country and foreign evacuations came to a close, the Taliban announced the composition of the all-male interim cabinet, headed by Mohammad Hasan Akhund, a former foreign minister during the previous Taliban rule, who has been under UN sanctions since 2001. (ANI/Sputnik)
