Taliban officials say they are trying to stabilize the banking sector in Afghanistan. Their officials also state that the economic growth is vital for their government, adding that they are working on developing private businesses.
The Central Bank of Afghanistan on Sunday held a coordination meeting chaired by Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi and attended by Central Bank’s acting head, Mohammad Idris, President of Afghanistan Banks Associations (ABA) and representatives of commercial banks.
The bank issued a statement on Sunday, September 26, saying that during the meeting, Abdul Salam Hanafi had heard the views and suggestions of central bank officials and representatives of commercial banks. Mr. Hanafi has reportedly promised to address the problems of bankers. He stressed that the banking sector is important to them, adding that they are taking serious and effective actions in this regard.
The restricted operations of the Afghan banks have made trouble not only for bankers but for the citizens as well. Afghan civilians are now more concerned than bankers.
Nawruz has come to one of the branches of a private bank in PD-3, Kabul, to withdraw cash from his bank account. He has about two hundred thousand dollars in two private banks but cannot withdraw.
“It is nonsense! I have $200,000 in the bank, but I cannot withdraw more than $200 a week,” says Nawruz.
He owns a construction company in Kabul. Nowruz says that it is impossible to run a business without money, our work has stopped, and my business is suffering bankruptcy. He called on the Taliban to allow banks to resume normal operations so that citizens’ problems could be alleviated.
The Taliban took control of Kabul about 40 days ago. Since then, monetary and banking transactions have been hampered. Banks reopened in the capital three weeks ago, but the distribution of money among customers is restricted. The central bank, in coordination with the bank’s association, has said that holders of individual bank accounts will not be paid more than $200 a week or more than 20,000 Afghanis a week.
The United States has said it has frozen billions of dollars of Afghanistan’s assets. The World Bank has previously announced that it will suspend payments to Afghanistan because it says it is deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the country’s development programs, especially for women. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also suspended a $450 million transfer to the Afghan government later this month. The German government has also announced that it will no longer provide $300 million in aid to Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban and the deputy Minister of Information and Culture, had previously said that they were working day and night to free Afghanistan’s blocked funds abroad.
“The economic turnaround is starting again,” Mr. Mujahid said. “The poverty that the Afghan people are currently worried about will be addressed very soon. We have a responsibility to work very hard in this direction. We are working day and night to resolve this issue and release the frozen money.”
Nematullah, a resident of Kabul, said he had some money in the bank, but despite several days of trying, he could not withdraw. “There are a lot of problems, people come to the banks even at nights, there is no time for us to go during the day,” he added.
Nematullah states that the Taliban government must address this issue as soon as possible. Meanwhile Taliban Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi has called on the international community, especially the United States, to lift the sanctions and talk to their government.
Muttaqi has stated that the Taliban want good relations with the world. He called the economic pressure on the Taliban to the detriment of the international community. According to Muttaqi, putting economic pressure on the Taliban will benefit those who want to harm the international community.
Following repeated requests from the Taliban, the US Department of the Treasury has authorized the import of medicine, medical equipment, food and agricultural goods to prevent widespread hunger in Afghanistan. According to the US Department, this is part of the US government’s routine procedures for allowing humanitarian services and exports to areas affected by US sanctions. The United States, however, has said it will not lift sanctions against the Taliban and other sanctioned individuals.
