NEW YORK: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The foreign minister appreciated the efforts of ICRC in providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in challenging and complex situations and for upholding the principles of international humanitarian law.
Today I met @PMaurerICRC
to discuss humanitarian situation in #Afghanistan & #IIOJK. Shared 🇵🇰 appreciation for all the work of the @ICRC in providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in challenging situations & upholding the principles of int’l humanitarian law. pic.twitter.com/3N9MxZzPd7— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) September 23, 2021
The foreign minister stressed the importance of the international community’s earnest engagement with Afghanistan and the provision of necessary humanitarian and development assistance to the Afghan people.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi outlined the contributions made by Pakistan towards the mitigation of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, especially through its support for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor and provision of in-kind assistance comprising food and medicines.
The foreign minister underscored the importance of economic stability for consolidating peace in Afghanistan and promoting sustainable development. He added that the world community must also provide support to the large Afghan refugee-hosting countries in line with the principle of international responsibility and burden-sharing.
The president ICRC briefed the foreign minister on his recent visit to Afghanistan and shared his assessment of the situation on the ground and the urgent humanitarian needs of the Afghan people.