ISLAMABAD: The interim Afghan government on Monday renewed its call for the lifting of sanctions, including a travel ban More than a dozen Taliban leaders say these sanctions do not benefit either side.
since the Taliban took over Afghanistan On August 15, 2021, over $9 billion afghan asset Banned and banned by the US and European countries banking system War-torn country.
“The policy of pressure and the imposition of sanctions by some countries has affected our countrymen,” said Abdul Latif Nazri, deputy Taliban economy minister.
However, Doha-based Taliban spokesman Sohail Shaheen said his country was in dire economic straits due to back-breaking sanctions and lack of recognition by the global community. According to him, the Taliban inherited a weak economy and an impoverished Afghanistan after gaining power in Kabul in August 2021. “The poverty we are experiencing today was inherited from the past, from the last 20 years of rule.” During which there was presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan,” he said during a media interaction.
Shaheen said that although it was claimed that “occupying powers” spent billions of dollars in the country, “those dollars went into the private pockets of warlords.” Common people continued to live below the poverty line. He claimed that the situation worsened after economic sanctions were imposed on Afghanistan after the Taliban took control. “The sanctions led to more poverty,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taliban’s Kabul-based spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid called for an end to a travel ban on some of its leaders to help push diplomacy forward. “Around 14 to 15 officers have problems in travelling. This (travel ban) was already there but it has been extended. This will not benefit either side as the leaders’ visits are necessary for engagement with the world and development of Afghanistan.
Under a 2011 Security Council resolution, a total of 135 Taliban officials have been imposed with sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans. Last year, 13 Taliban leaders, including interim foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaki, were granted a brief exemption from the travel ban so they could meet with officials from other countries, including the United States. However, the United Nations Security Council waived the waiver in August 2022 after objections from Western countries, citing the Taliban’s failure to uphold its commitments to respect the human rights of all Afghans, including women, form an inclusive government, and fight terrorism. was terminated.
since the Taliban took over Afghanistan On August 15, 2021, over $9 billion afghan asset Banned and banned by the US and European countries banking system War-torn country.
“The policy of pressure and the imposition of sanctions by some countries has affected our countrymen,” said Abdul Latif Nazri, deputy Taliban economy minister.
However, Doha-based Taliban spokesman Sohail Shaheen said his country was in dire economic straits due to back-breaking sanctions and lack of recognition by the global community. According to him, the Taliban inherited a weak economy and an impoverished Afghanistan after gaining power in Kabul in August 2021. “The poverty we are experiencing today was inherited from the past, from the last 20 years of rule.” During which there was presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan,” he said during a media interaction.
Shaheen said that although it was claimed that “occupying powers” spent billions of dollars in the country, “those dollars went into the private pockets of warlords.” Common people continued to live below the poverty line. He claimed that the situation worsened after economic sanctions were imposed on Afghanistan after the Taliban took control. “The sanctions led to more poverty,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taliban’s Kabul-based spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid called for an end to a travel ban on some of its leaders to help push diplomacy forward. “Around 14 to 15 officers have problems in travelling. This (travel ban) was already there but it has been extended. This will not benefit either side as the leaders’ visits are necessary for engagement with the world and development of Afghanistan.
Under a 2011 Security Council resolution, a total of 135 Taliban officials have been imposed with sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans. Last year, 13 Taliban leaders, including interim foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaki, were granted a brief exemption from the travel ban so they could meet with officials from other countries, including the United States. However, the United Nations Security Council waived the waiver in August 2022 after objections from Western countries, citing the Taliban’s failure to uphold its commitments to respect the human rights of all Afghans, including women, form an inclusive government, and fight terrorism. was terminated.