Pakistan, Iran seek quick aid to Afghanistan

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan and Iran have called for the international community to avert a looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by providing it immediate financial assistance.

Foreign ministers from the two countries also underlined an active global response to the situation in Afghanistan, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

At a joint media briefing in Tehran on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian agreed on the imperative of humanitarian assistance to the Afghans.

Qureshi asked the United Nations, the European Union and aid agencies for accelerating their humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan.

The Afghans, having suffered conflict over the past four decades, deserved peace, he said.  “We as a neighbour will continue to stand by Afghanistan in difficult times.”

The Iranian minister promised his country would stay in touch with all parties in Afghanistan. Iran’s security consultations with the Taliban government were ongoing, he continued.

Amirabdollahian said: “We are closely monitoring the developments in Afghanistan and believe the formation of an inclusive government … is the most significant political solution before us.”

Speeding up humanitarian aid supplies to Afghanistan during the cold snap would contain refugee flows into neighbouring countries.

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