G-20 extraordinary meeting on Afghanistan to be held on Oct 12

[ROME] An extraordinary meeting of the Group of 20 major economies to discuss Afghanistan will take place on Oct 12, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Wednesday.

Italy holds the rotating G-20 presidency this year and Mr Draghi has recently discussed Afghanistan with other world leaders - including Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping - in an effort to organise a special meeting to lay down strategies to confront the crisis.

"We have reached a point where we only need to worry about saving lives," Mr Draghi told a news conference.

The international community must also lay down a strategy to prevent Afghanistan becoming a haven for militants, he said.

The extraordinary G-20 meeting will take place a few weeks before the summit of the leaders scheduled in Rome for Oct 30-31. Mr Draghi said Qatar, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the United Nations will also participate.

The Afghan crisis is fuelling worries within the European Union over the risk of massive flows of migrants and some member states have already opposed plans to accommodate refugees.

After taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban government has reportedly announced it would restore the use of severe punishment on lawbreakers, including amputations and executions, and curb women rights.

Rome has said the systematic violation of women rights makes it impossible to recognise the Taliban administration but has urged foreign government to guarantee financial support to the Afghan civilians.

"I believe it is the duty of the richest countries in the world to do something to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe," Mr Draghi said.

REUTERS