PETALING JAYA: The government expects the developments on Afghanistan-related issues to be raised at the upcoming 48th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Islamabad next week.

       Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said he would represent Malaysia at the meeting as previously noted by the Minister on Monday (March 14).

       “We expect developments after the March 22 and 23 meeting,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (March 16).

       Kamarudin also reiterated the government's stance that the working visit by Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang to Doha, Qatar earlier this year did not mean that Malaysia recognised the Afghanistan government.

       “These engagement efforts were essential to ensure that Afghanistan did not experience a socio-economic and humanitarian collapse,” he said.

       Abdul Hadi, the Prime Minister's special envoy to the Middle East, had met with Afghanistan’s UN ambassador Suhail Shaheen in Qatar.

       Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah previously explained that Abdul Hadi’s working visit to meet Taliban delegates was aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s role in finding the best solution to issues in Afghanistan.

       Saifuddin had said that the visit was approved by the Prime Minister on Jan 28.

       Kamarudin pointed out that recognition of the Afghanistan government could only be established in two ways.

       Malaysia, as an OIC member, may take into account the stand jointly taken within the organisation on the issue of recognition, he said.

       The other way was that Malaysia and other like-minded countries could recognise the Afghanistan government if they were satisfied it had met and complied with conditions such as establishing an inclusive government, as well as preserving and defending the human rights of women and ethnic minorities.

       Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) had asked if the government intended to establish relations with the Afghanistan government, currently under the Taliban, and what assistance it intended to provide.

       To help Afghanistan rebuild, Kamarudin said Malaysia would continue to play a role in its own way, citing as an example his ministry's role as facilitator for Malaysian NGOs to carry out humanitarian missions there.

       “Malaysia is ready to work with the international community for the reconstruction of Afghanistan when the situation allows for it,” he added.

       He also encouraged the private sector to explore investment and trade opportunities in Afghanistan, adding that there was a lot of potential there such as in infrastructure, mining, agriculture, telecommunications and Islamic banking.

       On assistance given to Afghanistan so far, Kamarudin said a humanitarian mission by several NGOs on Feb 22 had provided five tonnes of aid worth more than RM1mil.

       “The government itself, as previously announced, gave aid worth US$100,000 (RM420,000) through OIC and relevant parties,” he added.

       Apart from this, he said another group of NGOs had provided US$50,000 (RM210,000) in aid that would be used to buy supplies in Pakistan or in Afghanistan itself.

       “The government Is also negotiating with authorities in Afghanistan to provide 1.6 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine,” he said.