ICRC Says Previous Engagement With Taliban Benefits Current Dialogue
Sumaira FH Published September 13, 2021 | 10:40 AM
GENEVA �(UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th September, 2021) �Previous engagement between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Taliban (banned in Russia as a terrorist organization) helps the organization maintain dialogue with the current leadership of Afghanistan, ICRC President Peter Maurer said in an interview with Sputnik.
"The fact that the ICRC has worked with the Taliban for many decades, that we were engaging with them when they were first in power, we have engaged them when they were not in power, as a party to conflict, and this pays off, in terms of relationship and trust that we have been able to establish with some of the more prominent figures of the movement," Maurer said.
He recalled that the ICRC had visited some Taliban members, who are among the group's leaders today, when they were in detention, noting that the humanitarian organization has a longer tradition of engaging with the militants than other actors.
"We ... certainly do believe that it is not the moment now to leave, but to stay, to engage, to ensure that we can work, to find reasonable compromises for our work between the values that they (the Taliban) represent and the norms that the international system, including ICRC, is representing," he added.
According to the ICRC head, there is currently a combination of crises in Afghanistan � political, economic and humanitarian � that creates such a difficult situation in the country. Maurer noted that the humanitarian one had aggravated in recent years due to increased hostilities, structural poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maurer believes that Afghanistan is experiencing turmoil in the health system, water supply and sanitation systems, partly to the fact that many experts are now forced to leave their homeland with the Taliban coming to power. The takeover has disrupted supply chains of medicines and medical equipment to hospitals that are now on the brink of collapse, and the food security crisis has become more pronounced due to surges in food prices.
This combination of factors turned Afghanistan into a super fragile country, Maurer said.
Recent Stories
PSX witnesses positive trend today
PM Shehbaz meets CJP Isa to address IHC judges’ concerns
Pakistan vows to bring to justice perpetrators, abettors of Bisham terrorist att ..
May 9 riots: SC allows conditionally to military courts to deliver reserved verd ..
Interior Minister arrives in Peshawar after Shangla suicide attack
OPPO Reno 11 F 5G: Setting New Records as Pakistan's Most Beloved Smartphone Lin ..
PCB dismisses FICA's claims of unpaid dues in PSL
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 28 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 28 March 2024
Niger says US to submit plan to 'disengage' troops
Venezuelan opposition registers unknown poll contender after obstacles
Van Aert breaks collarbone, ribs in Flanders fall
More Stories From World
-
Meet China's first corgi police dog
32 minutes ago -
Singapore sees sharp decrease in PE investment last year
32 minutes ago -
China's role model selection for Q1 2024 kicks off
32 minutes ago -
Australians tighten belt as higher grocery prices bite: survey
32 minutes ago -
ChiNext Index closes higher Thursday
33 minutes ago -
China to improve management of midwife service
42 minutes ago
-
China to lift anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine
43 minutes ago -
Seoul bus drivers' strike ends with wage agreement
52 minutes ago -
Revolt at Ecuador jail where powerful gang leader escaped
52 minutes ago -
US-Israel rift heads for moment of truth over Rafah
2 hours ago -
Russian bombs turn Ukraine border village into 'hell'
2 hours ago -
At Bulgaria's border with Romania, Schengen remains miles off
3 hours ago