The U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Tom West has said that U.S. has provided Afghanistan with humanitarian assistance worth $1.1 billion since August 2021.
Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International studies in Washington DC, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan said that humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan was not permanent, stressing that a system should be created for economic stability in Afghanistan. Currently, Afghanistan economic situation is concerning as billions in dollar of the country’s foreign assets have been frozen.
On the other hand, Afghan economists believe that keeping Afghanistan foreign assets frozen for a long period of time will result in intensifying economic crisis in the country. According to officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), humanitarian assistance from the international community is necessary as it relieves the pains of the people of Afghanistan.
They say if the country’s foreign assets are released, they will be kept in the country’s banks and used as the country’s monitory support system.
Regional countries particularly Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have been cooperative with Afghanistan in the past one year as they continue to maintain big percentage of Afghanistan electricity despite the fact that a large amount of electricity bill has not been paid to both countries.
Among other neighbors, China has pledged $30 million in aid, Kazakhstan has pledged 5,000 tons of wheat flour, and India has announced that it will send 50,000 tons of wheat. The respective countries of the region have provided Afghanistan with more humanitarian aid in the past one year.
The Islamic Emirate (IEA) welcomes foreign aid, but also stressed that the world should recognize the IEA, wants the country’s foreign reserves to be released unconditionally, sanctions to be lifted, and Afghanistan be treated as an independent country.
Meanwhile, Tom West, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan has said that besides U.S. humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, the U.S. wants to help the Afghan people in the economic sectors.
Soon after the Islamic Emirate takeover in mid-August 2021, the U.S. froze nearly $9.5 billion of Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves in international banks. The country’s foreign assets have not been released so far. The IEA officials have repeatedly asked the U.S. for releasing Afghanistan’s foreign assets.
On the other hand, Afghan citizens by holding protests have called for the release of their country’s foreign assets several times.
According to the World Food Program (WFP) information, 98 percent of people in Afghanistan do not have sufficient food. Unemployment and high price of foods and other commodities have caused increasing poverty in the country.
Zarabi
Humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan not permanent; U.S.
