Islamabad: Pakistan is facing difficulties in providing technical, financial and expert support to the Taliban government in Afghanistan in the absence of the regime's international recognition, according to a media report on Wednesday.
At a meeting presided over by Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan on Tuesday, key stakeholders considered various options to support the new Afghan administration through capacity building and technical expertise under crash programmes. The meeting was held amid reports that the war-torn neighbouring country was facing a severe food crisis. But the major challenge was how to do that without recognition by the world of the Afghan government, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The meeting called to discuss economic cooperation with Afghanistan was attended by Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Reza Baqir, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain and other senior officials. Informed sources told the newspaper that the meeting was told that the biggest challenge for the Afghan administration was the void created by a major exodus of technical and financial experts soon after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
The brain drain left major institutions, particularly of technical and financial nature, incapacitated to take over essential services like electricity, medical and financial facilities for smooth operations. Ayub emphasised the importance of bilateral economic assistance in the context of the current situation in Afghanistan. A statement quoted the minister as telling the participants that the government was keen to support the people of Afghanistan in addressing their socio-economic challenges.
In order to save the lives and livelihoods of the Afghan people, immediate technical and financial support is required on a humanitarian basis, he said. Imam said the reports about a severe food crisis facing over 14 million Afghan people were alarming. Expressing his concern over the situation, the minister stressed the need for support and solidarity of the international community for the people of Afghanistan, the statement said.
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(PTI)
