Since August 15, 2021, following the overthrown of the Afghan government by Taliban militants, Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserve has been frozen and blocked by the United States which has been one of the main topics of the Taliban in every summits and talks with international communities so far. The US president, Joe Biden signed an executive order on February 11, 2022, which cleared a pathway for releasing about $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan reserve funds held in the United States to be used for humanitarian and other assistance in Afghanistan, while an equal amount would be reserved for families of 9/11 victims who have legal claims against the Taliban.
Considering the current economical crises in the country, a group of ex-parliament members and former government officials have signed a petition, requesting the US president Joe Biden to release the reserved funds for the causes of Afghan people. The petition states that the people of Afghanistan are fighting humanitarian catastrophe and economic crises for the last seven months since the government has collapsed. The petitioners claim to be independent political figures, members of civil society organizations and university faculty members, criticizing the president Biden executive order and view the order against diplomatic ethics.
The petitioners have further argued on the basses of the current realities of Afghanistan’s economy, saying the reserve is the backbone for economic stability of the country. Blocking the assets of Afghanistan solves nothing but adds to the sufferings of the ordinary Afghan citizens. Since the fall of government, the unemployment rate has significantly increased and the financial system is in the edge of collapse. No one trusts the financial institutions and there has not been a single deposit made by the people in the banks for the last seven months. The account holders have been withdrawing their money and the central bank is not capable of supporting the private banks.
The reserves blockage has caused afghani currency to be unstable against the foreign currencies. Considering the business transactions, which are all being done with foreign currencies such as USD, the purchase power parity of afghani currency has significantly decreased which has doubled the poverty rate.
Nader Naderi, the former Chairman of the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission who is one of the signatories of the letter has told to Hasht-e Subh in an interview “The letter was neither signed nor issued at all.” It was a first draft that is published with no consultation with potential signatories and petitioners, he added.
“I am neither aware of any letter being sent to Biden’s office and nor have singed any letter.” Naderi further adds. He emphasized that it is against human moral to punish Afghan people for the sack of mistakes and wrong politics played by the elites in the region. The reserves blocked by the United State is Afghan people’s assets and it should be released and ensured that the money will be used ethically for the causes of Afghan people through aid agencies and international communities not Taliban and central bank which is under the control of militants and rebels who has no values and ethics to be trusted for protecting the national assets.
On the other hand, Mirwais Balkhi, the former Minister of Education and one of the signatories of the letter posted on his Facebook page that the first draft of the letter was shared for review and comments, but is rejected by the majority of the petitioners due to content sensitivity. It is believed that the content of the letter does not meet some participants’ political agendas and it needs to be revised. He further adds, “The money is the backbone of the country’s economy and it should neither be released to any group or bank in the country that are under the control of Taliban nor be granted to the families of 9/11 victims.”
Shahgul Rezaei, a former member of parliament and a potential signatory of the letter told Hasht-e Subh that she has not signed the letter yet. “The letter is in the review stages.” She said. She further added that the reserves of the Central Bank of Afghanistan should not be released to the victims of 9/11 and neither it should be release to the Central Bank that is under the influence of Taliban.
“This letter is not amended yet,” Fatema Gilani, who is in charge of drafting told Hasht-e Subh. “The letter is in the first draft stage and we are seeking the comments and feedbacks of our colleagues and friends for finalizing it soon in the future.”
On the other hand, a reliable source has told our reporters that the letter is finalized and would be sent to US President Joe Biden. The source further stated that the participants had arranged several meetings in this regard and even received money in exchange for writing the letter. Other participants have not yet officially commented on the matter.
Simultaneously, the legal experts network says that the Central Bank of Afghanistan is by no means independent and has never been independent for the past two decades. The network warns that if these reserves are handed over to the central bank, it is very likely to be invested towards infiltrating ideological goals of Taliban and the people of Afghanistan will not benefit out of it.
Taliban have failed to form an inclusive government and none of the promises made by Taliban are met yet. Taliban are still considered a terror group and their key leaders are on the blacklist of US Intelligence Agencies (FBI). How can a terrorist group be trusted to be the protector of national reserves who has been the cause of human tragedy for the last 20 years? How a terror group is trusted for such an important assignment that very proudly confirm that they have successfully launched dozens of suicide attacks in the region that no one has the capacity of such operations?
Releasing the reserves to Taliban is supporting the terror group to further gain power. It is against any ethics and human moral.
[highlight color=”gray”]Hasht-e Subh Dari[/highlight]