Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)_Monitoring, Speaking at the Tashkent conference on Afghanistan Tuesday, Muttaqi exclaimed the decades-long war and ongoing US sanctions are the main reasons for poverty in the country, adding the Islamic Emirate government is now ready to engage with the world based on mutual interest.
“The 20-year war affected our country, our economic system is under US economic sanctions,” he said, as TOLOnews quoted. “This action has not only prevented the transaction of money but also diminished the activities of our government which benefits only the people.”
According to the Acting Minister, lifting economic sanctions against Afghanistan is the best way to normalize relationship between the two countries, saying such a move will as well leave a positive impact on the mind of Afghan people.
“We call on the US to release Afghanistan’s Central Bank assets without any conditions and lift economic sanctions on Afghanistan,” he said. “This is the main step for normalization of relations. This will have a positive impact on the minds of the Afghans toward the US.”
Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate who is also part of the delegation, said the international community sees the need for engagement with Afghanistan, exclaiming a number of regional countries have defended the country.
“The world sees engagement with Afghanistan as a necessity,” he said. “The regional countries, including China, Russia and some other countries, have raised their voices to defend Afghanistan and have called for the release of Afghan assets.”