Afghanistan Suffering from Flood Damage... Taliban Appeals to Lift Sanctions and Unfreeze Funds

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Amid economic hardship and a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, the ruling Taliban has appealed to the international community to lift sanctions and unfreeze funds.

Abdul Kahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview with foreign media on the 25th (local time), "We hope the world grants the Afghan people their most basic rights," adding, "This is possible through lifting international sanctions, unfreezing overseas funds, and providing support."

On the 22nd, a powerful earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan, resulting in over 1,150 deaths and the destruction of 10,000 homes.

Although relief efforts have begun from various countries and international organizations, sanctions have made local financial support difficult. Combined with poor infrastructure and harsh weather conditions, these challenges have slowed down the relief operations significantly.

In response, the Taliban has requested the release of financial resources. The United States previously froze $7 billion (approximately 9.7 trillion KRW) of Afghan government assets held in the Federal Reserve after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August last year. It is reported that the total frozen overseas assets of the Afghan government, including this amount, exceed $9 billion (about 11.7 trillion KRW). Most of these funds were transferred by international relief organizations to support Afghanistan.

The Taliban government also promised, "We will not interfere with the relief operations of international organizations."

In the past, the Taliban showed uncooperative behavior toward international aid efforts, including seizing relief supplies or diverting them to their own power bases.

They repeatedly urged the international community to expand its support further.