G20 leaders focus on Afghan humanitarian and security situation

G20 leaders will hold a virtual summit to discuss Afghanistan, with the Italy-hosted talks focused on the humanitarian and security situation following the takeover by the Taliban, AFP reported.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose country holds the rotating G20 presidency, has been pushing to widen the global discussion on Afghanistan to countries including Russia and China.

It was not clear if all the leaders of the G20 economic powers, which include the US, EU, China, Turkey, Russia and Saudi Arabia among others, would join Tuesday’s meeting.

But an Italian government official said it would be “mostly heads of state and government.”

The summit will be held behind closed doors but Draghi will hold a press conference afterwards.

Afghanistan’s economy remains in a parlous state with international aid cut off, food prices rising and unemployment spiking.