‘Give us our money’, Taliban asks west to unfreeze Afghan’s assets

Western countries have frozen Afghan assets causing economic turmoil in Afghanistan. Economically crippled country asks these western countries to unfreeze the assets so as to run the country. About $9.5 billion Afghan reserves are frozen by America to stop the Taliban from smooth functioning. Taliban came into power in August after US withdrawal by defenestrating the US-supported government in Kabul. In return, the western countries are pressurizing the Taliban to follow human rights and women empowerment. Taliban ensured the international community that they would respect human rights and would allow women to get an education. But for the purpose they need money. Afghan officials said “The money belongs to the Afghan nation. Just give us our own money.”

Seizing the Afghanistan asset is unethical and against international law. The country is in economic trouble. If it further aggravates its Europe who is going to be in trouble. “You will have a double whammy of not being able to find bread and not being able to afford it. People will be desperate. They are going to go to Europe,” officials said. A board member of Afghan Central Bank Shah Mehrabi said, “If reserves remain frozen, Afghan importers will not be able to pay for their shipments, banks will start to collapse, food will become scarce, grocery stores will be empty.” The world community should rethink its foreign policy towards Afghanistan.