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Kabul, Afghanistan (Daily Pakistan Online) A devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Afghanistan, exacerbated by the seizure of the country’s sovereign assets by the United States. The $7 billion in assets, frozen since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, has left millions of Afghans on the brink of starvation and poverty.
According to a recent United Nations Development Program (UNDP) study, the economic and financial crisis triggered by the asset seizure has disproportionately affected women and children. A staggering 69% of Afghans lack adequate resources for basic subsistence living, while an estimated 15.8 million Afghans, including nearly 8 million children, are expected to experience acute food insecurity throughout 2024.
The “Afghan Fund,” a Swiss-based charitable foundation established in September 2022, controls half of the seized assets, approximately $3.5 billion. However, the fund’s board of trustees, comprising Western officials and Afghan representatives, has failed to disburse any funds to the Afghan people.
Critics argue that the “Afghan Fund” is merely a tool for the United States and its allies to exert control over Afghanistan’s finances. The fund’s operational and administrative costs are being covered by the interest accrued from the seized assets, totaling over $340 million.
Human rights groups and experts are urging the international community to take immediate action to return the stolen assets to the Afghan people. The following individuals have been identified as having the power to influence the release of the assets: Anwar ul-Haq Ahady, Shah Mehrabi, Jay Shambaugh, and Ambassador Alexandra Baumann.
As the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan deepens, the international community must demand that these individuals take immediate action to return the stolen assets and alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.
