The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concluded its 164th Ministerial Council session earlier this week with a renewed call for restoring security and stability in Afghanistan, highlighting the urgent need to uphold human rights and prevent terrorism within the country.

In the final communiqué issued after the meeting, the Council reaffirmed its solidarity with the Afghan people, stressing that peace and stability in Afghanistan are essential not only for its citizens but for regional and international security.

The Council emphasised the importance of guaranteeing women’s rights to education and employment, protecting minority communities, and ensuring Afghan territory is not used by terrorist groups or for drug trafficking.

“The aspirations of the brotherly Afghan people must be fulfilled in a way that ensures lasting peace, development, and dignity,” the Council stated in its communiqué .

The Ministerial Council also commended the humanitarian and relief efforts of GCC member states in Afghanistan, and called on the international community to continue providing economic and development aid to ease the suffering of the Afghan population.

The Council pledged ongoing support for Afghanistan’s fight against terrorism and reiterated the GCC’s commitment to a peaceful, stable, and inclusive Afghan society.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional political and economic alliance established in 1981, comprising six member states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.

Headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the GCC aims to foster coordination, integration, and unity among its members based on shared economic and cultural ties.

It plays a key role in regional security, economic cooperation, and foreign policy, and regularly addresses issues ranging from energy policy and trade to security challenges and humanitarian concerns in neighboring countries, including Afghanistan.