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IEA urges lifting of sanctions on Afghanistan
The Ministry of Economy has called on the international community to lift sanctions imposed on Afghanistan.
Officials from the ministry said that the continuation of these sanctions has had a negative impact on trade, investment, and the rise of poverty and unemployment in the country.
They also urged the international community not to politicize humanitarian issues.
Abdul Rahman Habib, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, stated the ongoing economic sanctions have affected key indicators such as domestic and foreign trade, investment, and job opportunities.
Habib further appealed to the international community not to politicize humanitarian concerns and to continue humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, experts have said that the political and economic sanctions imposed by the international community are not in Afghanistan’s interest.
The private sector also views dialogue and negotiation as the only way out of the country’s current challenges.
Abdul Jabbar Safi, head of the Afghanistan Industrialists Association, said: “Humanitarian aid is very important, and alongside that, the sanctions must be lifted.”
Recently, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that more than 22 million people in Afghanistan will be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2025.
The sanctions were largely imposed following the IEA’s return to power in August 2021.
These include the freezing of Afghan central bank assets—estimated at over $9 billion—and the suspension of international banking access, severely limiting the country’s financial system and public sector operations.
While some humanitarian exemptions have been granted, much of the formal economy remains paralyzed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced on Tuesday the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle from prison.
According to the ministry, Coyle’s mother had written to the leader of the Islamic Emirate demanding amnesty and the release of her son on the occasion of Eid. The Supreme Court considered time served sufficient and decided to release him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this action was carried out on the basis of humanitarianism and good faith, and it believes that such measures can strengthen trust between countries. The ministry also expressed hope that both countries, in the future, can find solutions to remaining issues through mutual understanding and constructive dialogue.
The Islamic Emirate also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates in this matter.
Separately, for Coyle’s release, an American delegation, including Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, met on Tuesday with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate.
The meeting was also attended by Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi, Ambassador of the UAE in Kabul, and a member of the prisoner’s family.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi stated that the Islamic Emirate has not detained any citizen of any country to achieve political objectives; rather, detentions were the result of legal violations, and individuals were released after completing judicial procedures.
At the meeting, Khalilzad praised the action of the Islamic Emirate and emphasized the importance of continuing discussions on all issues between the two countries, expressing hope for further progress in the future.
Muttaqi also stressed that Kabul and the UAE should provide standard consular services to their citizens, and that the Afghan government is fully prepared in this regard.
He thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for their constructive role in facilitating the release of the prisoner and referred to the UAE as a close friend of Afghanistan.
Earlier, Muttaqi had also praised the role of the State of Qatar in facilitating information exchange between the Islamic Emirate and the prisoner’s family.
Additionally, the UAE ambassador expressed his country’s readiness to play a role in humanitarian institutions and called such developments beneficial for everyone.
The United Kingdom has announced an additional £3 million (AFN 257 million) in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, aimed at supporting people affected by natural disasters and other shocks.
Richard Lindsay, in a post on X, said the funding will be used to provide essential nutrition supplies and related support to vulnerable populations.
The new allocation brings the UK’s total bilateral assistance to Afghanistan for the current financial year to £154 million (AFN 13.18 billion).
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