Today, Tuesday, at the headquarters of Al-Azhar, the Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb received Mr. Sajid Bilal, Pakistan's Ambassador to Cairo, to discuss issues of common interest. At the beginning of the meeting, the Pakistani Ambassador briefed HE the Grand Imam on the outcome of the OIC summit on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The summit was hosted in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, in the presence of representatives of member countries’ foreign ministries and of some non-Islamic countries, of the United Nations and of international organizations. The Pakistani Ambassador outlined the tragic situation of the Afghani people suffering from severe shortage of basic materials, such as food, drink, medicine and relief supplies, referring to the UN report on the situation in Afghanistan, which expected that 97% of the Afghans could plunge into poverty line. The report also indicated that the world could witness the worst humanitarian disaster in history, especially with the onset of winter, unless there be an international solidarity to remedy this tragic crisis.

For his part, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb said that Afghanistan is a dear country in the Muslim nation, and that he shares the pain, concerns and suffering of the Afghan people and the inhuman conditions that have befallen them, in the context of global silence. He thus prayed to Allah for their speedy relief from their worries and distress, invoking Him Almighty to deliver them from the pitfalls that have devastated everything throughout their history. HE the Grand Imam affirmed that Al-Azhar is fully prepared to support the Afghani people and stand with them in their plight, stressing that the current situation requires people of goodwill and all parties of the Muslim, Arab and international community to show solidarity towards saving Afghani children, mothers and the elderly, and to do their best to support help them in their bitter suffering. They were victims of inhumane political agendas.

The meeting dealt with the historical relations between Al-Azhar and Pakistan, and ways to enhance cooperation between the two parties towards disseminating the tolerant image of Islam, promoting interfaith harmony, and combating radicalism and extremism. The two parties agreed to enroll 50 Pakistani Imams and preachers for training at Al-Azhar International Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers and designing a special curriculum that matches the nature of issues and topics pertaining to the Pakistani society.