ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called on world powers to unblock billions of dollars in Afghanistan assets frozen after the Taliban takeover but said it did not expect recognition soon of the new government.
Ahead of talks on Afghanistan at the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the most urgent priority was averting an even deeper economic collapse of the neighbouring nation that could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe.
“On one hand, you’re raising fresh funds to avert a crisis and on the other hand money that is theirs — belongs to them — they cannot use,” Qureshi told UN correspondents of several media outlets.
Met with @UN correspondents today & shared my intention to highlight Pakistan’s perspectives on a number of issues at #UNGA, in particular on the need for equitable socio-economic development, stabilisation of #Afghanistan and a just resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute. pic.twitter.com/GO3NAFeltq
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) September 21, 2021
“I think freezing the assets is not helping the situation. I would strongly urge the powers that be that they should revisit that policy and think of an unfreeze,” he said.
“It will be a confidence-building measure as well and that could also incentivise positive behaviour.”
The United States froze $9.5 billion in Afghan central bank assets and international lenders have stayed clear of Afghanistan, wary of providing money that could be used by the Taliban.
While calling for engagement with the Taliban, Qureshi appeared to share the US stance that it was premature to establish formal ties.
“I don’t think anybody is in a rush to recognise at this stage and the Taliban should keep an eye on that,” Qureshi said.
If the Taliban want recognition, “they have to be more sensitive and more receptive to international opinion,” he said.
The minister said Islamabad’s objective is peace and stability in Afghanistan and to achieve that “we would suggest to Afghans that they should have an inclusive government.” He says their initial statements indicate they aren’t averse to the idea, so “let’s see.”
Qureshi expressed confidence the Taliban would live up to their promise “that girls and women would be allowed to go to school, college and university.”
The Taliban said on Tuesday girls will be allowed to return to school “as soon as possible”.
The Taliban were notorious for their rule from 1996 to 2001 when women were largely barred from work and school, including being banned from leaving their homes unless accompanied by a male relative.
During the weekend, the education ministry issued a diktat ordering male teachers and students back to secondary school — but made no mention of the country’s women educators and girl pupils.
At a press conference in Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said of the return of girls to school: “We are finalising things […] it will happen as soon as possible.”
He added that “a safe learning environment” needed to be established beforehand.
Qureshi also voiced hope that the Taliban would be more inclusive after forming a caretaker government that includes figures blacklisted by the United Nations on terrorism allegations.
But he said he saw “positives” from the Taliban including a declaration of amnesty and a willingness to include ethnic groups other than the group’s dominant Pashtuns.
“These are trends that must be encouraged,” he said.
Activists and witnesses say on-the-ground reality is different than the Taliban’s promises, with women and girls already being excluded from employment and education even without formal announcements by the insurgents.
