Afghanistan’s Taliban administration on Saturday called on international governments to roll back sanctions and lift sanctions on central bank assets earthquake In which more than a thousand people died and thousands became homeless.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit the country’s east early Wednesday, destroying or damaging 10,000 homes and injuring nearly 2,000, crippling the country’s fragile health system and posing a major test for the ruling Taliban.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Kahar Balkhi said, “The Islamic Emirate is asking the world to give Afghans their most basic right, which is their right to life, and they will seek to lift sanctions and free our assets and provide assistance.” Committed to doing it.” Through.” Reuters in an interview.
While humanitarian aid continues to flow into Afghanistan, funding needed for long-term development was halted when the Taliban seized control of the country in August 2021 as foreign forces withdrew.
The administration of the hard-line group is not formally recognized by international governments.
Billions of US dollars in Afghanistan’s central bank reserves Hold on Further sanctions abroad hamper the banking sector as the West pushes for concessions on human rights.
Western governments are particularly concerned about the rights of women and girls to work and study under Taliban rule. In March, the group stopped opening high schools for girls.
Asked about the issue, Balkhi said that Afghans’ right to life-saving money should be a priority, adding that the international community handled concerns over human rights differently depending on the country involved.
“Is this rule universal? Because the United States has just passed an anti-abortion law,” said Balkhi, pointing to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade’s landmark decision that recognized a woman’s right to an abortion.
“Sixteen countries of the world have taken away the rights of religious minorities, especially Muslims … Are they also facing sanctions because they are violating the rights?” He asked.
White House spokeswoman Carine Jean-Pierre said Saturday that the US government is “working on complex questions about their use.” [frozen central bank] To ensure that they benefit the people of Afghanistan and not the Taliban.”
He added that the US Agency for International Development is providing assistance with humanitarian organizations.