Islamic Emirate Urges Intl Community to Remove Sanctions

The Islamic Emirate has once again called on the international community to remove sanctions, saying that it is needed to facilitate engagement between the Islamic Emirate and the international community.

With the Islamic Emirate taking over Afghanistan on August 15th, 2021, the Afghan assets in foreign reserves were frozen.

In August 2022, the UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement on whether to extend travel exemptions for 13 Taliban officials.

According to TOLOnews findings:

–          More than $9 billion in assets were frozen by the US and European countries.

–          Restrictions were placed on the banking system and transfering money abroad.

–          Travel bans were placed on 15 Islamic Emirate officials.

Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that restrictions on traveling by Islamic Emirate’s leaders does not benefit any side.

“About 14 to 15 officials have issues with traveling. It (travel ban) existed previously but it has been extended. This doesn’t benefit any side as the travels of the leaders are necessary for engagement with the world and development of Afghanistan,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy (MoE) said that the imposed sanctions by the international community are affecting the life of the people of Afghanistan.

“The imposition of pressure policy and sanctions by some of the countries has affected our countrymen,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy Minister of Economy.

But political analysts gave various opinions about the sanctions on the Islamic Emirate’s leaders.

“If the Taliban wants, they can bring reform as an independent government and accept the conditions to get out of the blacklist and travel bans,” said Aziz Maarij, a political analyst.

“The Afghan currency is in a good position due to the strategic deposits of Afghanistan’s assets which guarantees the international value of the Afghan currency, although it is frozen,” said Azeraksh Hafizi, an economist.