Mujahid highlighted the detrimental impact these sanctions have had on the country’s economy and urged the release of Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves.

“We are facing some sanctions. Unfortunately, sanctions have been imposed by Western countries, both in the field of banking and in the field where Afghan money is blocked and not allowed to be used in the central bank. This has had all its negative effects,” Mujahid stated.

The private sector has echoed these concerns, noting that banking sanctions have hindered the country’s economic growth by complicating money transfers for investors. Economic experts suggest that lifting the sanctions would lead to lower prices for goods and attract more investments into the country.

Currently, $7 billion in central bank reserves remain frozen by the United States. Of this amount, $3.5 billion has been transferred to a trust fund in Switzerland, while the remaining $3.5 billion has been allocated by U.S. President Joe Biden to the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The ongoing financial restrictions have created significant challenges for Afghanistan, impacting everything from daily transactions to long-term economic planning. The call to lift these sanctions is seen as a critical step towards stabilizing and revitalizing the nation’s economy. (ILKHA)