KABUL - Finland has urged the global fraternity not to forget Afghanistan and help stabilise the war-torn country.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, who visited Kabul last week, issued the call during a lecture at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
Gulf Times quoted him as saying during his lecture, organised by the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies: "Unfortunately the aid has not come for all areas in the country."
Since 2002, Helsinki has provided Afghanistan with 385 million euros in aid. Finland is set to host the Afghanistan Conference next month.
“As the international donors prepare for the conference in Geneva, our message to the donors will be not to forget Afghanistan,” the minister said.
“We all need peace in Afghanistan, particularly neighbouring countries like Iran, Pakistan and India. They all agree peace in Afghanistan is necessary for them also,” he added.
Haavisto commended the role of Qatar in hosting the ongoing Afghan peace process in Doha “This is very important phase of the process taking place here.”
He underlined the need for international mediation, multilateralism, inclusion of women and youth, use of technology in mediation and role of the civil society in peacemaking. (Pajhwok)