KABUL (Pajhwok): Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, has stressed the need for continued international engagement and expanded practical cooperation with Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan Coordination Group meeting is being held in Doha, the Qatari capital, from 20 to 21 October, with representatives of various countries, the United Nations and international organisations in attendance, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
Al Misnad emphasised that Afghanistan needed sustained international engagement, clear priorities and practical cooperation more than ever.
She said Qatar’s commitment to dialogue had guided its efforts on Afghanistan since the launch of the Doha peace process in 2013, noting that her country had supported peaceful solutions based on dialogue and preventive diplomacy.
She stressed that Afghanistan’s future should be determined through an inclusive, Afghan-led political process that respected the country’s national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Stability in Afghanistan was important not only for its people but also for regional security, stronger economic ties and international peace, she said.
The Qatari minister said her country had provided or pledged nearly $150 million over the past decade to support humanitarian and development projects in Afghanistan, particularly in healthcare, education and emergency response.
Referring to Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation, she said economic difficulties, the return of migrants and the displacement of families had placed additional pressure on basic services and limited employment opportunities.
Despite a decline in funding for humanitarian assistance, the Afghan people continued to face serious needs in healthcare, nutrition, education, drinking water and food security, Al Misnad added.
She called for greater coordination among donor countries, the United Nations, international financial institutions and regional organisations, stressing that aid should reach those in need transparently, responsibly and in accordance with humanitarian principles.
She also said the Afghan people should not bear the consequences of poor coordination among aid agencies or differences in their positions.
The Qatari official reiterated her country’s commitment to continuing humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan, particularly support for women and young people.
She described the Doha Process and its related working groups as a suitable platform for strengthening international cooperation and called for continued efforts in counter-narcotics, private-sector development and other areas of practical cooperation.
Afghanistan should remain a priority for the international community, she concluded, adding that technical cooperation should continue alongside efforts to advance a broader political process rather than serve as a substitute for it.
kk/sa
