Taliban Spokesman on Economic Crisis in Afghanistan

US to release Afghan funds

Responding to a question regarding the ongoing economic crisis in Afghanistan, Mujahid said the US had blocked their assets in August, causing the economic crisis.

However, he hoped that after the recent meeting of Afghan acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi with the US officials in Doha, Qatar, and Washington will release their funds soon.

“Recently, our leaders met with the US officials in Doha and they assured us of releasing our funds,” he said, hoping the Taliban government will overcome the current economic crisis soon.

The US government has blocked over $9 billion of the Afghan Central Bank’s reserves, and many donors and organisations, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, have halted payments since the Taliban swept to power on 15 August.

Several countries, including China, Russia, Pakistan and Qatar, have called on the US to allow Afghanistan to access its foreign reserves, but there have been no positive indications so far.

Taliban recovers $20m

Mujahid accused the former government officials of shifting millions of dollars from the country and said the Taliban recovered millions of dollars from the houses of former officials who fled the country.

“Our Mujahideen (fighters) recovered over $20 million from the presidential palace and houses of former top officials of the Ashraf Ghani government and deposited that money in the central bank,” Mujahid said.

In August, the Afghan Central Bank said it has received more than $12 million in cash and gold bricks found in the residences of former government officials, including former Vice President, Amrullah Saleh.

Foreign interference

The Taliban government, once again, rejected the demand to form an inclusive government with the participation of former officials and called it “interference in their country’s internal affairs”.

Responding to a question on whether some Western countries demanded the Taliban adjust some representatives of the previous government in their Cabinet in order to be recognised, Mujahid said some countries are talking about an inclusive government but such demands are an interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.

“If they [the Western countries] want to bring them back [previous government representatives] they would face public reaction and anger,” he said, and added that Afghans know how to run their country.

He added the Taliban have already constituted an inclusive government that included representatives from all ethnic groups, including Tajiks, Baloch, Turkmens, Nuristanis, Uzbeks and a number of other ethnic groups.

“[Can] anyone show us an example in the world where opposition figures also occupy positions in power?” Mujahid said.