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Muttaqi calls for cooperation in letter to US Congress
Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi warned Wednesday that continued “sanctions” will not help the current situation and could instead lead to a major crisis including a mass migration.
In a letter addressed to the United States Congress, Muttaqi said after suffering decades of war, the Afghan people now “have a right to financial security.”
“Currently the fundamental challenge of our people is financial security and the roots of this concern lead back to the freezing of assets of our people by the American government,” he said.
He also said that following the signing of the Doha Agreement in February last year, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) “no longer find ourselves in direct conflict with one another nor are we a military opposition, what logic could possibly exist behind the freezing of our assets?”
“We believe that both sides have a great opportunity to build positive relations, moving forward and learn lessons from past bitter experiences. At a time when we have an excellent opportunity for positive relations, reaching for the option of sanctions and pressure cannot help improve our relations.”
He said the country now has a “united, responsible and non-corrupt government,” and that “practical steps have been taken towards good governance, security and transparency, islands of power have been eliminated, agents of corruption, embezzlement, usurpation and infringement of other rights have been neutralised, security has taken hold throughout the country, no threat is posed to the region or world from Afghanistan and a pathway has been paved for positive cooperation.”
“Afghanistan now has everything available for growth and development, and the United States of America can also invest in the manufacturing, agriculture and mining sectors of Afghanistan,” he said.
However, he said the IEA understands “the concerns of the international community and America, and it is necessary for both sides to take positive steps in order to build trust.”
Muttaqi also stated that freezing of assets and economic sanctions can harm health, education and other civil service systems and that this “will only harm the common Afghans and this will serve as the worst memory ingrained in Afghans at the hands of America.”
On the humanitarian crisis, Muttaqi stated that the country has already been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, drought, war and poverty and that the imposition of “sanctions” has hampered trade and impacted the process of providing humanitarian assistance.
“Assessments by the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations conclude that if these conditions continue, the Afghans will face a dire situation this winter,” he said.
He also pointed out that there was not “logical” justification for allowing women and children to suffer due to the lack of health services, food, shelter and other primary needs.
In calling for Afghanistan’s assets held by the United States to be released, he said he hopes Congress will take the matter seriously and consider the people.
“In conclusion, I request the government of the United States of America take responsible steps towards addressing the humanitarian and economic crisis unfolding in Afghanistan so that doors for future relations are opened, assets of Afghanistan’s Central Bank are unfrozen and sanctions on our banks are lifted.”
An explosion occurred at police headquarters in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province on Thursday morning, injuring several guards, local officials said.
Asadullah Jamshid, spokesman for Kandahar police, said on X that the blast was triggered by container-loaded old ammunitions belonging to the counter-narcotics department.
He said that several guards were injured and windows of several rooms were broken as a result of the explosion.
Jamshid said security forces and firefighters rushed to the scene to prevent further explosions.
Following the intensification of the deportation process of refugees from Pakistan, Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) has started distributing free mobile phone SIM cards to returnees, in addition to providing telecommunications and internet services.
AWCC officials said they are also offering free voice calls and internet packages for the migrants.
“We are distributing SIM cards to the migrants being deported from Pakistan,” said Ibrarullah Zahir, the Sales Manager of AWCC in the eastern zone.
The company’s officials emphasized that they are offering these free telecommunications and internet services to returnees as part of the company’s social responsibility initiatives.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Nangarhar called on all telecom networks to provide 24-hour services to returnees.
Zabihullah Zaki, the head of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Department in Nangarhar, said they are monitoring the situation of the migrants and added that telecommunications companies are cooperating in this regard.
Attaullah Sahil, head of AWCC in the eastern zone, said the company’s teams are available 24/7 to provide services to returning migrants in the area.
Meanwhile, returnees have welcomed AWCC’s initiative of distributing SIM cards to them and for other free services.
Pakistan has this month ramped up its campaign to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees, many of whom have lived in that country for decades.
Return refugees have, however, reported that Afghans in Pakistan are facing increasing harassment and the confiscation of their belongings by Pakistani authorities.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday night slammed the Joe Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it “the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country”.
Trump said had he been president in 2021, “the disaster would have never happened”.
Addressing the National Republican Congressional Committee Dinner on Tuesday, April 8, Trump said he would have still pulled out troops as he had planned but he would have held on to Bagram Air Base.
As one of the biggest air bases in the world, he said he would have kept it “not for Afghanistan but because it’s one hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”
He stated, “China now occupies it”.
He slammed Biden for being “stupid” and criticized him for evacuating through Kabul International Airport in August 2021, instead of through Bagram.
Trump said: “They left from a local little airport, which was crowded like crazy.
“The bomb went off and decimated hundreds of people. Killed hundreds. We lost 13 soldiers. But we also had 42 or 48 horribly injured — arms, legs, faces. Horribly injured,” he said, referring to the Abby Gate suicide bombing that took place on August 26 outside the crowded airport.
More than 170 Afghans were killed in the explosion and 13 American soldiers also died.
Trump said this happened “all because we had a stupid leader,” adding that the incident should never have happened.
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