ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Tarig Ali Bakheet, met with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch on Tuesday to discuss efforts for constructive dialogue with the Taliban, including on the topic of girls’ education.
In a statement, the OIC said that the meeting addressed political, economic, and humanitarian issues concerning Afghanistan, with a focus on fulfilling mandates outlined in OIC resolutions. The statement noted that the discussions “also included efforts by the OIC and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to pursue constructive dialogue with the de facto authorities on various issues, including girls’ education, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian concerns.”
Bakheet emphasized the need to strengthen the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund, which operates under the Islamic Development Bank. He also delivered a written message from the OIC Secretary-General to Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, outlining the OIC’s latest initiatives aimed at supporting the Afghan people.
Taliban have banned girls from attending secondary schools over the past three years. Meanwhile, Taliban have also banned female students from attending universities since December 2022.
The officials agreed to continue close coordination and consultation, aiming to foster stability and progress in Afghanistan. Bakheet also held discussions with Ambassador Ahmed Naseem Warraich, Pakistan’s Additional Secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia, exploring potential international formats for engaging with Afghanistan and opportunities to strengthen these initiatives, the OIC statement added.
