Taliban calls on foreign community to distribute aid through the group

With just days to go before the start of the key Geneva pledging conference for Afghanistan, the Taliban said late Wednesday night that all aid to Afghanistan should be done in coordination with the insurgent group.

In a statement issued on social media, the group’s Qatar spokesman Naeem Mohammad said: “In order for this aid to reach the nation and the deserving people in a transparent and fair manner, the best way is for the international institutions to distribute such aid in coordination with the Islamic Emirate.”

Naeem said aid being distributed was going to the wrong people.

“The aid that is collected in the name of the nation does not reach the deserving and is neither requested nor supported by the Islamic Emirate [Taliban],” read the statement.

“Therefore, we call on the world and all international organizations to ensure that the aid collected in the name of the nation reaches the nation,” the group said in the statement.

The Taliban said that the Islamic Emirate is ready to cooperate in this regard.

The Geneva Conference, which starts on November 23, will bring together over 70 countries and organizations that will pledge their funding plans for the next four years.

Shah Hussain Murtazavi former deputy presidential spokesman meanwhile said in response to the Taliban on his Facebook page that: ”After the drug trade, looting of mines and extortion, the Taliban now intend to gain tithes from the international community.”