Pakistan on Tuesday called on the international community to remain engaged with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to avoid a humanitarian crisis there.

"The cooperation of the international community is essential to save Afghanistan from human tragedy," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told his German counterpart Heiko Maas, who is visiting Pakistan.

Qureshi's remarks, as released by the Foreign Ministry, came after U.S. troops completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan by an Aug. 31 deadline, after 20 years of fighting with the Taliban.

A large number of foreign diplomats and aid workers have evacuated from Afghanistan since Taliban took over Kabul following the collapse of President Ashraf Ghani's government on Aug. 15.

The International Monetary Fund had earlier suspended Afghanistan's access to the reserve funds because of lack of international recognition of the new government.

Aid agencies have warned about looming shortages of food and medical supplies because of the situation in the war-ravaged country following the Taliban takeover.

Pakistan International Airlines on Monday carried the first consignment of World Health Organization supplies to Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan's fourth-largest city. The flag carrier would also work with the World Food Program to transport its cargo.

"The international community should not leave Afghanistan alone on this occasion and continue its economic support," Qureshi said, adding that the international community needs to show solidarity with Afghans.

Qureshi welcomed statements by the Taliban leadership regarding respect for human rights, preventing the use of Afghan territory against other countries, and forming an inclusive government, saying the commitments are encouraging.

==Kyodo

© Kyodo News International, Inc., source Newswire