Muslim nations
Muslim nations meet, urge peace in Afghanistan
The world's largest organisation of Muslim nations held an extraordinary session in Saudi Arabia Sunday to discuss the Afghanistan situation, with calls for it not to be turned into a "hub for terrorism."
Yousef al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), pointed to the escalating humanitarian needs in Afghanistan and noted that "reconciliation is the key to bringing peace."
He urged for Afghanistan not to be used "as a haven for terrorism again."
Read: Chaos as thousands flee Afghanistan after Taliban takeover
Representatives of the OIC met at the body's headquarters in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after Saudi Arabia called for the meeting.
The kingdom's representative to the OIC reiterated Saudi support for a comprehensive peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban and all parties to maintain security.
After the US announced it was withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and wrapping up its military operations, the Taliban launched a rapid offensive on government forces, entering Kabul without a fight just a week ago.
Read: UNHCR issues non-return advisory for Afghanistan
The Taliban's lightning takeover has sparked a hurried exodus of people associated with the Western intervention in the country. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country; the Western nations have struggled to ramp up the pace of evacuations.
3 years ago