KABUL (Anadolu) – The Taliban’s interim government in Afghanistan has urged the U.S. to play its part in addressing the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the war-ravaged country, Anadolu Agency reported.
In a statement by the Taliban-run Foreign Ministry, Washington was reminded that the humanitarian issue predates the group’s rise to power.
That was in response to the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, who said in a series of tweets that Washington made clear to the Taliban for years that if they pursued a military takeover rather than a negotiated settlement with fellow Afghans, then critical non-humanitarian aid provided by the international community — in an economy enormously dependent on aid, including basic services — would all but cease. And that is what occurred.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the comments by West that Afghanistan faced a humanitarian crisis prior to August are a faithful admission.
“It is correct that economic problems have been inherited by the new government. Thus everyone should fulfill their own responsibilities to address the issue,” said Balkhi.
The U.S. envoy said Washington will continue clear-eyed, candid diplomacy with the Taliban.
The interim government wrote an open letter to members of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, urging them to take “responsible steps towards addressing the humanitarian and economic crisis unfolding.”
The letter, signed by Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, said such steps will open doors for future relations, unfreeze assets of Afghanistan’s Central Bank and lift sanctions.
More than $9 billion in Afghan foreign assets have been frozen by the U.S. after the Taliban regained power in August following the complete withdrawal of foreign forces.
“As the cold winter months are fast approaching in Afghanistan, and in a state where our country has been hammered by the coronavirus, drought, war, and poverty, American sanctions have not only played havoc with trade and business but also with humanitarian assistance,” according to the letter.