The United Nations Security Council convened to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with several member states and Roza Otunbayeva, Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), emphasizing the critical need for supporting the country amidst its ongoing challenges.
Ms. Otunbayeva underscored the importance of delivering humanitarian aid to those in need, highlighting it as an essential priority.
China’s Special Envoy to the meeting, Fu Cong, called for the unconditional release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets by the United States. He stated: Humanitarian assistance is directly tied to the fundamental welfare of all Afghan people and should not be used as a bargaining tool for political leverage. We urge donor nations, particularly the United States, to unconditionally release and return all assets that rightfully belong to the Afghan people.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy also reaffirmed its commitment to securing the release of frozen funds. Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, highlighted the significant obstacles posed by sanctions, banking restrictions, and the frozen assets. He remarked, “Our objective is to expedite the release of the Afghan people’s assets and channel them into initiatives that drive the country’s economic growth and development.”
Kazakhstan’s Special Representative at the meeting reiterated his nation’s ongoing economic cooperation with Afghanistan. He emphasized the strategic importance of infrastructure and connectivity projects to link Afghanistan to global trade, transport, logistics, and energy networks. Such initiatives, he noted, are crucial for the nation’s reconstruction and for creating sustainable employment opportunities for its citizens.#
