PESHAWAR: Top Taliban official, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, called on the international community in the fight against the growing economic crisis in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, Stanikzai told a gathering marking International Refugee Day that the United States was responsible for Afghanistan’s economic crisis for confiscating billions of dollars from Afghanistan central bank’s assists. The senior Taliban leaders said in his address that the freezing Afghan assets are not affecting the Taliban but Afghan civilians.
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UN agencies estimate that millions of Afghans will need emergency assistance during the winter. Aid to the Taliban has been hampered by a lack of international engagement and, to a lesser extent, the rights of women and girls and the failure to form an inclusive government. Abbas Stanekzai added that if the economic and political situation does not change, migration of Afghans will increase.
Meanwhile, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West said Washington’s policy towards the Taliban was clear, but added that US will be on the forefront in helping the people of Afghanistan. West made the remarks while attending a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Afghanistan’s economic crisis in Islamabad. After arriving in Islamabad, Thomas West emphasized the need to work with donors to Afghanistan.
Mr West said in a tweet that Washington was continuing its open diplomacy with the Taliban on human rights, terrorism and access to education, among other issues. This is despite the White House announcement, last week, that there was no plan to release Afghanistan’s frozen assists. White House spokeswoman Jene Psaki said the money would remain out of reach for a number of reasons.