Islamabad: Pakistan has called on world powers to unblock billions of dollars in Afghan assets frozen after the Taliban takeover but said it did not expect recognition soon of the new government.
Ahead of talks on Afghanistan at the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the most urgent priority was averting an even deeper economic collapse of the neighbouring nation that could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe.
“On one hand, you’re raising fresh funds to avert a crisis and on the other hand money that is theirs — belongs to them — they cannot use,” Qureshi told reporters.
“I think freezing the assets is not helping the situation. I would strongly urge the powers that be that they should revisit that policy and think of an unfreeze,” he said.
“It will be a confidence-building measure as well and that could also incentivize positive behaviour.”
The United States froze $9.5 billion in Afghan central bank assets and international lenders have stayed clear of Afghanistan, wary of providing money that could be used by the Taliban.
While calling for engagement with the Taliban, Qureshi appeared to share the US stance that it was premature to establish formal ties.
“I don’t think anybody is in a rush to recognise at this stage and the Taliban should keep an eye on that,” Qureshi said.
If the Taliban want recognition, “they have to be more sensitive and more receptive to international opinion,” he said.
The foreign minister added that the immediate need was to avert a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country as the Taliban settle down to manage the dire situation. AFP
