Taliban warns of refugee exodus if US keeps funds under sanction

THE Taliban has warned America it faces a refugee exodus unless lawmakers release billions in frozen foreign reserves belonging to Afghanistan.

The movement’s acting foreign minister used an open letter to the United States Congress to appeal for an end to sanctions which are helping cripple the nation’s economy.

Millions are facing hunger this winter after the Taliban’s takeover tipped the country’s already fragile economy into freefall.

The militants’ victory after a nearly 20-year insurgency has seen aid to the government suspended and foreign reserves frozen.

Sanctions against many of the Taliban’s leadership mean international banks and businesses are reluctant to deal with the country and commerce has collapsed.

Afghanistan’s militants-turned-rulers have now made a direct appeal to their erstwhile enemies in Washington to cut the sanctions and release the country’s overseas funds.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, wrote to Congress warning of a refugee exodus if America continues its stance.

Some $9billion (£6.7billion) is currently frozen, mostly in the US.

The letter began by acknowledging that relations between America and Afghanistan have “experienced ups and downs”.

“We are concerned that if the current situation prevails, the Afghan government and people will face problems and will become a cause for mass migration in the region and world,” Muttaqi wrote.

Sanctions will also worsen the humanitarian crisis, he said.

“Freezing of assets and economic sanctions can harm systems of health, education and other civil services from which the general public benefit.

“Damage to these building blocks will only harm the common Afghans and this will serve as the worst memory ingrained in Afghans at the hands of America.”

America has little appetite to release the funds, diplomats say.

The Taliban’s revived emirate is led by militant stalwarts, many of whom are on international sanctions lists.

Meanwhile, the new administration is refusing to allow other political factions a share of power, is keeping girls from secondary school in some regions and is accused of conducting reprisal killings on members of the former government.

America says it is instead channelling money to humanitarian aid agencies working in the country, to avoid funds going to the Taliban.