OIC Chief: Consultations to Unfreeze Afghan Funds

OIC Chief: Consultations to Unfreeze Afghan Funds

Secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha has revealed that the 57-member body and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) are negotiating with international parties to unfreeze Afghan assets.

This push is meant to help resolve Afghanistan’s economic crisis. Meanwhile, Taha said the OIC is urging the IDB to speed up the establishment of a trust fund that aims to support humanitarian and development assistance to those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Taha said that the OIC’s special envoy is expected to visit the Afghan capital, Kabul, soon to hold negotiations with the Taliban on how to implement the decision taken by the Council of Foreign Ministers.

Last December, the OIC held an extraordinary meeting for its Council of Foreign Ministers to address the situation in Afghanistan. While the summit was hosted in Pakistan, it was upon the invitation of Saudi Arabia.

The meeting decided to establish a Humanitarian Trust Fund, under the aegis of the IDB, to serve as a vehicle to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, including in partnership with other international actors.

The Council of Foreign Ministers requested the IDB expeditiously operationalize the Humanitarian Trust Fund by the first quarter of 2022.

It also