Abu Dhabi, Nov 15 (IANS): International community must urgently step in to address humanitarian issues in Afghanistan, top experts said during the eighth Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate (ADSD) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A panel discussion on the second day of the ADSD focused on Afghanistan's current political and security landscape.

"Over the past 20 years the Afghans have experienced an unprecedented era of freedom of liberties that include freedom of education, expression and assembly and the reversal of this is disappointing," Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Ambassador, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Afghanistan in Geneva, said.

"In the early days of the Taliban's forced entry into Kabul there was hope in many parts of the country for a lasting peace. However, two events set back Afghanistan: The Taliban's announcement of their cabinet and the attack on Panjshir as it started a cycle of revenge."

Dr Marvin G. Weinbaum, Director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies at the Middle East Institute, and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said there is a crisis of administration in the country.

"For Afghanistan, it is the end of the crisis of conflict, there is a period of relative peace that the country has not experienced in 40-45 years. Now there is a transition into a series of crises, such as an economic crisis and a crisis of administration."

Andisha said the Taliban's cabinet formation was a huge disappointment.

"The cabinet is completely far from inclusive, it's 100 per cent Taliban, zero woman and no other religious minorities of Afghanistan."

Andisha said that different stakeholders must come together to resolve the situation.

"The Taliban may reach out to the international community where the UN and other regional actors could be involved, and this could be complemented by a regional plan."

Weinbaum said there is a grave humanitarian crisis that needs to be urgently looked at.

"The international community must address the humanitarian issue in Afghanistan first, it is a matter of humanity. The international community has a good deal of influence on the Taliban. The Taliban want international recognition and the continuation of aid flows. The Taliban wasn't to be recognised as part of the system."

Weinbaum said there is no other industry or source of profit other than poppy, which was also adding to the discontent among Afghans.

"There is no industry in Afghanistan except poppy growing and there is a liquidity crisis, this is leading to the start of the flow of refugees from Afghanistan."

The ADSD was held by the Emirates Policy Center (EPC) with focus on the regional and international environments in the post-Covid-19 era.