The decision, announced by President Biden on Friday, will provoke outrage from the money-seeking Taliban. Afghanistan has a $ 6 billion central bank account in New York and was shut down by the United States in August after the Taliban seized power after 20 years of fighting.
The American action is very special. It is unusual for the government of a country where the assets of another country have been frozen to decide with their own hands what to do with that money. The Taliban government, unrecognized by the United States and other countries, has been trying to raise billions for months. The government has had no money since August, when financial aid from abroad was cut off.
Assistance to the people by the UN and international organizations is also facing problems. However, the United States has refused to comply with Taliban demands for the release of billions in the United States. As a result of this decision, Afghanistan now has only 1.8 billion euros in bank accounts in various countries, including Germany. This money is also disabled. It is unclear what will happen to these assets from the Central Bank of Afghanistan.
The money has stopped
Washington’s action now offers the families of 9/11 victims the opportunity to make up for their loss. In recent years, as the Taliban movement has become the home of al Qaeda, various groups of family members have sued the Taliban. The 2001 bloody attacks in New York and Washington were planned and produced in Afghanistan by Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his commanders. The Taliban were then in power in Afghanistan.
The judge will have to decide whether the three billion euros will be used to pay compensation to the families of the victims. The money will be deposited in the bank account for the time being. “Americans affected by terrorism will have every opportunity to hear their claims in court,” the White House said Friday of the president’s decision to remove $ 6 billion.
‘Disaster’
According to President Biden, the US move will actually ensure that billions are spent on the Afghan people. He said if it had gone to the Taliban, it would have been uncertain.
“This decision will protect it from the hands of the Taliban and other malicious parties,” the White House said. “The United States has imposed sanctions against the Taliban, including for threatening American security, such as holding our citizens hostage.”
According to the UN and international aid agencies, Afghanistan is facing a ‘humanitarian catastrophe’. In January, the UN pledged $ 4.4 billion to help Afghans this year. The UN has never demanded such a large sum for a country in need.
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