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For Afghanistan’s development, international community must lift sanctions: MoE
The Ministry of Economy (MoE) says the country’s ongoing economic crisis is due to continued economic and banking sanctions and the freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign reserves.
According to MoE officials, although basic economic projects have not been implemented in Afghanistan in the past two decades, the Islamic Emirate is trying to use all the facilities it has to solve the country’s economic problems.
“In the past year and a half, the economic problems that Afghanistan has had, some are internal and some are external factors,” said Abdulrahman Habib, the economy ministry’s spokesperson.
“The freezing of the country’s national assets and the sanctions imposed on our financial and banking system have directly affected domestic and foreign business activities.”
Members of the private sector meanwhile have also criticized the continuation of global sanctions on Afghanistan, saying that if the banking sanctions are lifted and the frozen funds are released, the economy will improve.
“Their conditions [external investors] for investment are insurance issues, international transactions, and some laws that in light of these issues they can come to the country and invest,” said Shirbaz Kaminzadeh, the head of the Afghan Chamber of Industries and Mines.
“When the framework is not ready for investors, I don’t think big companies will come [to Afghanistan for investment],” he added.
Economic experts also consider the pressure and sanctions imposed by the international community as the cause of the current crisis in Afghanistan and add that if the country’s banking sector is freed from sanctions, Afghan investors will work towards resolving the country’s economic problems.
Shahabuddin Delawar, president of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), met with Richard Lindsay, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, to discuss the country’s humanitarian situation and ways to expand assistance for vulnerable communities.
According to ARCS, the meeting focused on support for people affected by natural disasters, Afghan returnees and other vulnerable groups, particularly their urgent humanitarian and healthcare needs.
Delawar thanked the United Kingdom for its humanitarian assistance to people affected by natural disasters and briefed Lindsay on the ARCS’s humanitarian and healthcare activities.
He highlighted the society’s services for children with congenital heart defects at its cardiac hospital, vocational training and skills development programs for vulnerable women and children across seven regional zones, mental healthcare services, and assistance to communities affected by natural disasters.
Delawar said decades of hardship had left many Afghans facing mental health challenges, while vulnerable families continued to struggle with difficult living conditions. He stressed the need for expanded humanitarian assistance and healthcare support.
Referring to the return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries, Delawar said many families urgently need shelter, food, non-food items and medical services. He called for greater UK cooperation to help meet returnees’ basic needs.
Lindsay praised the ARCS’s humanitarian work and pledged continued cooperation in supporting returnees and other humanitarian initiatives in the coming year. He also said he would seek to facilitate effective cooperation with the society in the healthcare sector.
Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation to expand humanitarian assistance, support vulnerable communities and improve healthcare services in Afghanistan.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met with Yatin Patel, India’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul, on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Muttaqi emphasized that, in line with its balanced foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate attaches importance to relations with India.
Referring to the growing volume of trade between the two countries, he stressed the need to strengthen communication and cooperation between Afghanistan’s and India’s public and private sectors, adding that cooperation should be expanded to make better use of existing capacities.
Meanwhile, Yatin Patel said India seeks to expand its relations and engagement with Afghanistan in the economic, political and humanitarian fields.
Muttaqi also wished Patel success in his new assignment.
Mohammad Naeem, Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met on Wednesday with Richard Lindsay, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two sides discussed Afghanistan’s political, economic and security situation, regional stability, humanitarian assistance and consular services.
Naeem expressed appreciation for the UK’s humanitarian assistance and cooperation with Afghanistan and stressed the importance of continuing cooperation between the two sides.
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