Intl community aid to Afghanistan may be cut off: Atmar

Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Nominated Minister for Foreign Affairs, warned Monday that the international community may cut its financial assistance to Afghanistan.

In a public session of the Lower House of the Parliament (Wolesi Jirga) on Monday, Atmar presented his plans to the MPs for a vote of confidence where he expressed his concerns over the danger of a complete cut of international aid to Afghanistan.

“There is a danger that the international community will express its inability to continue providing assistance to the Afghan government,” Atmar said.

He added that the international community has also proposed ten basic conditions for the continuation of financial assistance to the Afghan government.

Atmar stated that these conditions that are handed over to the Taliban as well, “will be assessed at a cabinet meeting today.” 

Acting Foreign Minister pointed out that a serious fight against corruption the most important thing for continuing international aid to Afghanistan.

The Taliban, however, has not commented in this regard so far but “reduction in violence” and concluding a “political roadmap” between the Afghans are among the conditions set by the international community for its aids. 

Meanwhile, the officials of the Institute of War and Peace Studies warn that Afghanistan could face a worse fate if the Afghan peace process failed and the international aid to Afghanistan cut off.

Tamim Asey, the head of the Institute of War and Peace Studies stated: “It is possible that Afghanistan heads to a civil war and become a battleground for the proxy groups of the regional countries. In that case, Afghanistan will become another Syria and Libya.”

This comes as the donor pledging conference will be held next month in Geneva where the international community will discuss financial assistance to Afghanistan for the period 2021 to 2024.