KABUL — The Taliban called Wednesday on US Congress
members to release Afghan assets frozen after their takeover of the country,
warning economic turmoil at home could lead to trouble abroad.
اضافة اعلان
In an open letter, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan
Muttaqi said the biggest challenge facing Afghanistan was financial insecurity,
"and the roots of this concern lead back to the freezing of assets of our
people by the American government".
Washington has seized nearly $9.5 billion in assets
belonging to the Afghan central bank, and the aid-dependent economy has
effectively collapsed — with civil servants unpaid for months and the treasury
unable to pay for imports.
Concerned nations have pledged hundreds of millions of
dollars in aid, but are reluctant to commit funds unless the Taliban agree to a
more inclusive government and to guarantee the rights of women and minorities.
"I present to you our compliments and would like to
share a few thoughts on our bilateral relations," Muttaqi wrote, noting
that 2021 was the centenary of Washington recognizing Afghanistan's
sovereignty.
In measured understatement, he added: "Akin to other
world countries, our bilateral relations have also experienced ups and
downs."
'Mass migration' threat
Muttaqi said Afghanistan was enjoying stable government for
the first time in over 40 years — a period that started with an invasion by the
Soviet Union in 1979 and ended with the withdrawal of the last US troops on
August 31.
From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban ruled Afghanistan with an
iron fist, brutally violating human rights in the name of Islamic law, sparking
fears of a return of their abuses.
The Taliban have since returning to power gone to great
lengths to convince the international community that they intend to do things
differently this time — though no female ministers have been named, and girls
are still barred from returning to secondary school.
"Practical steps have been taken towards good
governance, security and transparency," Muttaqi wrote.
"No threat is posed to the region or world from
Afghanistan and a pathway has been paved for positive cooperation."
Muttaqi said Afghans "understand the concerns of the
international community", but that it was necessary for all sides to take
positive steps to build trust.
He warned, however, that the economic situation could spark
a mass exodus.
"If the current situation prevails, the Afghan
government and people will face problems and will become a cause for mass
migration in the region and world which will consequently create further
humanitarian and economic issues," he said.
Muttaqi said the US risked further damaging its reputation
in the country "and this will serve as the worst memory ingrained in
Afghans at the hands of America".
"We hope that the members of the American Congress will
think thoroughly in this regard," he added.
"I request, ... so that doors for future relations are
opened, assets of Afghanistan's Central Bank are unfrozen and sanctions on our
banks are lifted."
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