<p>Envoys from 57 Islamic nations were meeting in Pakistan Sunday for a summit aimed at relieving the humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Afghanistan, while testing diplomatic ties with its new Taliban rulers.</p>.<p>The meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is the biggest major conference on Afghanistan since the US-backed government fell in August.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/pakistan-hopeful-of-reaching-consensus-on-afghanistan-during-key-oic-meeting-1062256.html" target="_blank">Pakistan hopeful of reaching consensus on Afghanistan during key OIC meeting</a></strong></p>.<p>After the Taliban's lightning return to power, billions of dollars in aid and assets were frozen by the international community, and the nation of 38 million now faces a bitter winter.</p>.<p>The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan is on the brink of the world's worst humanitarian emergency with a combined food, fuel and cash crisis.</p>.<p>On Sunday Pakistan's capital was on lockdown, ring-fenced with barbed wire barriers and shipping-container roadblocks where police and soldiers stood guard.</p>.<p>Any aid pledges were set to be announced Sunday evening.</p>.<p>Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is among the delegates, alongside others from the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.</p>.<p>No nations have yet formally recognised the Taliban government and diplomats face the delicate task of channelling aid to the stricken Afghan economy without also propping up the hardline Islamists.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/afghan-crisis-regional-connectivity-to-be-focus-of-india-central-asia-dialogue-on-sunday-1062165.html" target="_blank">Afghan crisis, regional connectivity to be focus of India-Central Asia dialogue on Sunday</a></strong></p>.<p>Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the meeting would speak "for the people of Afghanistan" rather than "a particular group".</p>.<p>Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the only three countries to recognise the previous Taliban government of 1996 to 2001.</p>.<p>Qureshi said there was a difference between "recognition and engagement" with the new order in Kabul.</p>.<p>"Let us nudge them through persuasion, through incentives, to move in the right direction," he told reporters ahead of the OIC meeting.</p>.<p>"A policy of coercion and intimidation did not work. If it had worked, we wouldn't have been in this situation."</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>Envoys from 57 Islamic nations were meeting in Pakistan Sunday for a summit aimed at relieving the humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Afghanistan, while testing diplomatic ties with its new Taliban rulers.</p>.<p>The meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is the biggest major conference on Afghanistan since the US-backed government fell in August.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/pakistan-hopeful-of-reaching-consensus-on-afghanistan-during-key-oic-meeting-1062256.html" target="_blank">Pakistan hopeful of reaching consensus on Afghanistan during key OIC meeting</a></strong></p>.<p>After the Taliban's lightning return to power, billions of dollars in aid and assets were frozen by the international community, and the nation of 38 million now faces a bitter winter.</p>.<p>The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan is on the brink of the world's worst humanitarian emergency with a combined food, fuel and cash crisis.</p>.<p>On Sunday Pakistan's capital was on lockdown, ring-fenced with barbed wire barriers and shipping-container roadblocks where police and soldiers stood guard.</p>.<p>Any aid pledges were set to be announced Sunday evening.</p>.<p>Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is among the delegates, alongside others from the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.</p>.<p>No nations have yet formally recognised the Taliban government and diplomats face the delicate task of channelling aid to the stricken Afghan economy without also propping up the hardline Islamists.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/afghan-crisis-regional-connectivity-to-be-focus-of-india-central-asia-dialogue-on-sunday-1062165.html" target="_blank">Afghan crisis, regional connectivity to be focus of India-Central Asia dialogue on Sunday</a></strong></p>.<p>Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the meeting would speak "for the people of Afghanistan" rather than "a particular group".</p>.<p>Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the only three countries to recognise the previous Taliban government of 1996 to 2001.</p>.<p>Qureshi said there was a difference between "recognition and engagement" with the new order in Kabul.</p>.<p>"Let us nudge them through persuasion, through incentives, to move in the right direction," he told reporters ahead of the OIC meeting.</p>.<p>"A policy of coercion and intimidation did not work. If it had worked, we wouldn't have been in this situation."</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>