INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Afghanistan&s Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has called on international governments to roll back sanctions and lift a freeze on
central bank assets following the earthquake that killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands homeless.The 6.1-magnitude quake that
struck the east of the country early on Wednesday destroyed or damaged 10,000 homes and injured about 2,000 people.The Islamic Emirate is
asking the world to give the Afghans their most basic right, which is their right to life and that is through lifting the sanctions and
unfreezing our assets and also giving assistance,& Abdul Qahar Balkhi, foreign affairs ministry spokesman, told Reuters in an
interview.While humanitarian aid continues to flow to Afghanistan, funds needed for longer-term development were halted when the IEA seized
control of the country in August 2021 as foreign forces withdrew.Billions of United States dollars in Afghan central bank reserves remain
frozen overseas and sanctions hamper the banking sector as the West pushes for concessions on human rights.Western governments are
particularly concerned about the rights of women and girls to work under IEArule.Asked about the issue, Balkhi said Afghans& right to
life-saving funds should be the priority, adding that the international community handled concerns over human rights differently depending
on the country involved.Is this rule universal? Because the United States just passed an anti-abortion law,& Balkhi said, referring to the
Supreme Court&s overturning on Friday of the landmark Roe v
Wade ruling that recognised a woman&s right to an abortion.Sixteen countries in the world have taken away the rights of religious
minorities, especially Muslims … are they also facing sanctions because they are violating rights?,& he asked.White House spokesperson
Karine Jean-Pierre said on Saturday the United States government was working on &complicated questions about the use of these (frozen
central bank) funds to ensure they benefit the people of Afghanistan and not the Taliban (IEA).The post IEA calls for release of frozen
funds following deadly earthquake first appeared on Ariana News.
