Taliban demands unconditional release of Afghan bank reserves
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Kabul: The interim government that took office in Kabul in August under the Taliban, has called upon the international community to unfreeze the country's bank reserves for overcoming the humanitarian crisis in the country, reports IANS quoting media reports.
Taliban's Ministry of Finance spokesman, Ahmad Wali Hawmal demanded unconditional release of the funds. He said that the freezing of the assets is against international law and it constitutes a "clear sign of cruelty against the Afghan people", reported Afghanistan's TOLO News.
"The frozen money is not the asset of the Islamic Emirate, it is the money of needy people and businessmen. It is against international law and should be released soon."
On Sunday, a group of Afghan industrialists and traders staged a rally against the continued hold on Afghanistan's reserves, saying the severe economic crisis will harm not only the war-torn country but also other nations, the new channel reported.
"If the money is not released, the crimes will increase, the cultivation of poppy and the smuggling of drugs will increase as well, which hurts Afghanistan and other countries," said Mohammad Shah Shahab, an industrialist.
It is constantly reported that respecting human rights, and granting the right to education and work to women are fundamental conditions set by the international community for the release of the assets.
"The money will not be released and the world will not recognise the new government, if the Islamic Emirate does not implement the conditions," said Zarqa Yaftali, a human rights activist.
After the collapse of the former government in August and the country's subsequent takeover by the Taliban, billions of dollars of Afghanistan's assets were frozen by the US.
The US Treasury Department has announced it has no plans to release the assets., although humanitarian aid has been mobilised at an international level at the behest of the UN.
(With input from IANS0
