Taliban economy minister warns sanctions are worsening Afghanistan’s economic crisis
Dian Mohammad Hanif, the Taliban administration’s economy minister, said in a meeting with Turhan Saleh, the United Nations Development Programme representative in Afghanistan, that the suspension of development aid and international sanctions were the main obstacles to the country’s economic growth. He said the freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign reserves and the organisation’s non-recognition of the Islamic Emirate had increased economic pressure on the public.
Hanif also described boosting domestic production, combating drug cultivation and managing water resources as priorities of the Ministry of Economy, and warned that climate change and the mass return of migrants had added to the economic and social crisis. According to him, building roads, schools, clinics and water supply networks is highly important to provide shelter for returnees.
He added that implementing infrastructure and production projects would increase job opportunities and help reduce poverty and support sustainable economic growth. In response, Turhan Saleh praised Afghanistan’s economic achievements over the past five years and stressed the UNDP’s continued cooperation with the country.
The UN representative said he was ready to cooperate in the areas of combating drug cultivation, building small dams, implementing educational programmes and supporting the private sector. The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to expand cooperation to strengthen economic capacity and sustainable development in Afghanistan.
