The Deputy Secretary-General & Special Envoy of OIC on Afghanistan, Mr. Tariq Ali Bakhit, accompanying his delegation called on IEA-Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.
During the meeting, the two sides engaged on multiple matters including security, education, counter-narcotics, economic cooperation, humanitarian & development aid, & enhancing IEA’s representation within the OIC.
Underscoring IEA’s achievements in domains such as security, economy, education, counter-narcotics, as well as its commitment to fostering constructive engagement with regional & global countries, FM Muttaqi noted that the realities on the ground in Afghanistan are far more positive than what it is often portrayed by foreign media. Additionally, he encouraged the international community to witness these realities firsthand instead of relying on media narratives, stressing that changing the perception shaped by four decades of conflict can only be achieved by seeing the realities on the ground through direct observation.
In turn, Mr. Bakhit stated that our presence here reflects our desire to see the realities for ourselves not through the lens of others. Adding further, while we will listen to perspectives from various sides, our final decisions will be made independently, guided by the realities we observe.
In the end, Mr. Bakhit said that the OIC has never supported biased approaches in its engagement with Afghanistan & believes in a policy of discovering & reflecting the realities on the ground, assuring that the OIC would continue to support Afghanistan through various initiatives.
