Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, called for sustained international engagement with Afghanistan, warning that humanitarian and economic pressures are being compounded by displacement, returning Afghans and growing demands on already limited services.
Speaking Tuesday at a meeting of the Afghanistan Coordination Group in Doha, Al Misnad said Afghanistan needs “enduring international engagement, clear priorities and practical cooperation.”
She called for a coordinated, transparent and accountable international response guided by humanitarian principles and focused on the needs of Afghans.
Al Misnad said humanitarian funding remains under significant pressure as needs persist in health care, nutrition, education, water and food security.
“The Afghan people should not bear the consequences of fragmented institutional efforts or conflicting approaches among the entities seeking to assist them,” she said.
She urged donors, the United Nations, international financial institutions, regional organizations and implementing partners to better coordinate their efforts.
Al Misnad said Qatar has provided or pledged about $150 million over the past decade for humanitarian and development projects in Afghanistan, particularly in health, education and emergency response.
She said Qatar would continue working with UN agencies and international partners to ensure assistance reaches the most vulnerable, particularly women and young people.
Their inclusion, she said, is essential to Afghanistan’s socioeconomic future.
Al Misnad also said Qatar believes Afghanistan’s future should be determined through a comprehensive, Afghan-led political process that respects the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
She said Afghanistan’s stability has implications beyond the country, including for regional security, economic connectivity and international peace.
Al Misnad highlighted the UN-led Doha Process and its working groups as a platform for international cooperation on Afghanistan, including counter-narcotics and private-sector development.
She urged participants in the Afghanistan Coordination Group meeting, being held Oct. 20-21, to identify shared priorities, strengthen practical cooperation and keep Afghanistan high on the international agenda.
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