ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations called for the lifting the “unjustified freeze” on Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves during a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday.
Afghanistan plunged into economic crisis when its Western-backed administration collapsed in mid-August as the Taliban took control. The takeover triggered the suspension of billions of dollars in international assistance to the country’s aid-dependent economy, while the US blocked Kabul’s access to more than $10 billion in Afghan central bank assets.
While the UN last month announced setting up a special trust fund to provide urgently needed cash to Afghans, Islamabad’s UN envoy, Ambassador Munir Akram told the UN Security Council more help was needed to avoid a humanitarian disaster.
“We trust that this and similar mechanisms will be stepped up quickly to scale up the flow of money and stabilize the Afghan economy, and that the unjustified freeze of Afghanistan’s assets will be lifted soon,” Akram said, adding that cash was needed to revive Afghanistan’s economy, pay salaries, restore small businesses and to revive the country’s banking system.
The immediate challenge in Afghanistan, he said, is the dire humanitarian and economic crisis, as half the population — 28 million people — face acute food insecurity, which will be exacerbated by the coming harsh winter conditions.
“The consequences of major humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in Afghanistan will be horrendous,” Akram said.
The Pakistani envoy’s plea came after Afghanistan’s government called on the US Congress to release the Afghan assets.
In an open letter on Congress members, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Wednesday said the Taliban administration had managed to bring political stability and security to Afghanistan since August but the economic situation is worsening humanitarian challenges.
He said the biggest challenge of Afghans was currently financial insecurity and “the roots of this concern lead back to the freezing of assets of our people by the American government.”
Pakistan calls for lifting of ‘unjustified freeze’ on Afghan assets
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Pakistan calls for lifting of ‘unjustified freeze’ on Afghan assets
- US blocked Afghanistan’s access to more than $10 billion in central bank assets after the Taliban takeover in August
- Afghanistan’s government pleaded with US Congress on Wednesday to release the Afghan assets
Saudi Arabia condemns deadly mosque bombing in Pakistan’s capital
- The Kingdom rejects targeting of places of worship, expresses solidarity with Pakistan
- Saudi foreign ministry offers condolences to victims’ families, wishes injured recovery
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia on Friday condemned the suicide bombing that targeted a mosque in Islamabad, expressing solidarity with Pakistan after the attack killed and injured dozens on the outskirts of the capital.
The blast, which struck during Friday prayers, killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 160 others, according to Pakistani authorities.
In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Saudi Arabia denounced the targeting of a place of worship and rejected all forms of violence and extremism.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist bombing that targeted a mosque in the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islamabad,” the statement said.
It added that the Kingdom stood firmly against attacks on civilians and places of worship and reaffirmed its support for Pakistan in confronting militant violence.
The ministry also extended condolences to the families of those killed and expressed sympathy with the Pakistani government and people, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.
No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which Pakistani officials say is being investigated.
