KUWAIT CITY — The Gulf Cooperation Council has called for greater stability in Afghanistan, the protection of women’s rights, and continued humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, as foreign ministers of the six-member bloc concluded their 164th meeting in Kuwait on Tuesday.
In a joint communiqué issued at the close of the summit, the Council emphasized the importance of ensuring women’s rights to education and employment, supporting minority groups, and safeguarding human rights under Afghanistan’s current political framework.
The meeting, chaired by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, brought together representatives from all member states — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. The GCC Secretary-General, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, also attended.
Council members reaffirmed their support for the Afghan people in combating terrorism, and stressed the need to prevent extremist groups and narcotics trafficking networks from using Afghan territory as a base of operations.
“Stability and security in Afghanistan not only fulfill the aspirations of its people, but also contribute to regional and international peace,” the statement said.
The Council urged the international community to continue humanitarian, economic and development support to alleviate the suffering of Afghans, while commending the relief efforts undertaken by GCC member states.
In addition to Afghanistan, the summit addressed a broad range of regional and global developments, including the situation in Gaza and Palestine, maritime security in the Gulf, relations with Iran, and ongoing crises in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya and Somalia. Tensions between India and Pakistan and the war in Ukraine were also discussed.
The Council reiterated its commitment to the principles of peaceful coexistence, dialogue, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the fight against extremism.
