‘WE’LL SPEND IT ON FOOD … HONEST!’
KABUL: The Taliban has thanked the world for pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency aid to Afghanistan, as the hardline Islamists urged the US to show “heart” to the impoverished country.
As new images emerged of wrecked military choppers, ATVS and emptied quarters left by US troops in the rush to leave Kabul, a donor conference in Geneva ended with pledges of $Us1.2bn (about $1.6bn) in aid for Afghanistan
The country, already heavily dependent on aid, is facing an economic crisis, with the new authorities unable to pay salaries and food prices soaring.
Amid fears the aid money would be commandeered by the Taliban, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the regime’s acting foreign minister, promised it would be used to alleviate poverty.
“We thank and welcome the world’s pledge,” he said. “The Islamic Emirate will try its best to deliver this aid to the needy people in a completely transparent manner.”