Washington: The United States on Friday rejected an appeal made by Taliban To release the Afghan assets frozen after its takeover, it said the new government in Kabul must first “earn” legitimacy.
Thomas West, US Special Representative Afghanistan, said in a tweeted statement that Washington has long made clear that vital non-humanitarian aid will be cut off if the Taliban assert power by military force rather than negotiate with the previous US-backed government.
“That’s what happened,” said West.
“Legitimacy and support must be earned from actions to address terrorism, establish an inclusive government, and respect the rights of minorities, women and girls – including equal access to education and employment,” he said.
The Taliban in an open letter on Wednesday called on the US Congress to release Afghan assets frozen after the country’s takeover in August.
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.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki said in the letter that the biggest challenge facing Afghanistan was financial insecurity, and warned that economic turmoil at home could spell trouble abroad.
The West said that before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan was already in dire economic and humanitarian crisis due to years of war, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The US will continue to support the Afghan people with humanitarian aid,” he said, adding that $474 million has already been provided this year.
“Washington is doing everything possible to help the United Nations and humanitarian actors meet the needs this winter,” he said.
“We will continue to have clear, frank diplomacy with the Taliban,” he said.
Thomas West, US Special Representative Afghanistan, said in a tweeted statement that Washington has long made clear that vital non-humanitarian aid will be cut off if the Taliban assert power by military force rather than negotiate with the previous US-backed government.
“That’s what happened,” said West.
“Legitimacy and support must be earned from actions to address terrorism, establish an inclusive government, and respect the rights of minorities, women and girls – including equal access to education and employment,” he said.
The Taliban in an open letter on Wednesday called on the US Congress to release Afghan assets frozen after the country’s takeover in August.
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.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki said in the letter that the biggest challenge facing Afghanistan was financial insecurity, and warned that economic turmoil at home could spell trouble abroad.
The West said that before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan was already in dire economic and humanitarian crisis due to years of war, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The US will continue to support the Afghan people with humanitarian aid,” he said, adding that $474 million has already been provided this year.
“Washington is doing everything possible to help the United Nations and humanitarian actors meet the needs this winter,” he said.
“We will continue to have clear, frank diplomacy with the Taliban,” he said.
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