By Crispian Balmer

ROME (Reuters).-The Group of 20 large economies has declared its determination to address the Afghan humanitarian crisis, even if that means coordination with Taliban forces, Mario Draghi, the Italian Prime Minister, said Tuesday, after attending an emergency summit.

Afghanistan, which was already suffering with severe drought and poverty from decades of wars, has had its economy almost completely collapse since the Taliban took power on August 15. This raised the fear of another exodus.

Draghi said that “there has been basically a convergence between views on the need for us to deal with the humanitarian emergency,” during a conference.

The U.S. President Joe Biden and the Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi were present, as well as many European leaders. However, President Obama and President Putin of Russia did not call in. This suggests that different international views on the crisis.

Draghi stated that the presence of these leaders does not diminish the significance of the meeting, which was organized by Italy as the G20 chair.

Draghi stated that this was the first multilateral solution to the Afghan crisis. Multilateralism will return, though with difficulties, but it is returning.”

Participants were unanimous in agreeing that Afghanistan’s crisis is urgently needed. There, banks have run out of cash, civil servants aren’t getting paid, and food prices have rocketed, putting millions at serious risk of starvation.

While most of the assistance will go through the United Nations (UN), there will still be direct aid to each country, even though many states refuse to recognize the Taliban government.

Draghi explained that “it is difficult to see how you could help Afghanistanans without involving Taliban…but that doesn’t mean recognising” them.

He stated that the Taliban would only be judged by the deeds they do, not the words. And the entire world was particularly worried about the condition of women living in poverty.

“At the moment we don’t view progress,” Draghi stated.

White House stated that leaders have discussed the “critical need to remain laser-focused on our enduring antiterrorism efforts, especially against ISISK threats”.

G20 leaders made a joint call to the Taliban in a statement following the meeting. Future humanitarian efforts should concentrate on girls and women, with safe passage to be granted to Afghans wanting to flee the country.

China demanded the lifting of economic sanctions against Afghanistan and for billions of dollars in international assets from Afghanistan to be freed and returned to Kabul.

Britain and the United States, which hold large quantities of the assets, have resisted this attempt and it was not mentioned in the last statement.

Three weeks ahead of the G20 summit in Rome (Oct. 30-31), Tuesday’s meeting will be held. It is scheduled to address climate change, global economic recovery and malnutrition.