The United Nations and United States have imposed sanctions that affect how NGOs and other actors can operate in Afghanistan. Existing sanctions are doubly constraining due to uncertainty more clarity and flexibility is needed
Such a “middle path” would seek to save lives by providing necessary humanitarian aid in the short-term, avoid a total economic collapse with all the spillover effects that risks, preserve the development gains made over the last two decades (notably in health and education), and put Afghan society on a trajectory that avoids disintegration without strengthening the Taliban.īelow we provide key takeaways from the discussion alongside our recommendations for near-term actions that international actors can take, ideally with leadership from the United States government (these recommendations are the authors’ views and do not represent consensus among discussion participants). The main theme that emerged is the need to forge a middle path between the two extremes of (a) punishing the Taliban by ceasing aid flows and preventing access to foreign exchange reserves at the expense of ordinary Afghans or (b) increasing financial flows at the expense of potentially bolstering an unsavory regime. The event featured briefings from former senior Afghan economic officials-Mustafa Mastoor (former Minister of Economy), Shah Mehrabi (member of the Supreme Council of Da Afghanistan Bank and former senior economic advisor to the Minister of Finance), and Gul Maqsood Sabit (former Deputy Minister of Finance)-and included participants from donor organizations, implementing partners, and think tanks. With restrictions on channeling aid through state structures, what will happen to the large aid programs-and the services they delivered-that used to be run through the government?.With most of Afghanistan’s foreign reserves frozen in US financial institutions, what steps can the United States and international community take to maintain pressure on the Taliban while staving off economic crisis?.How do sanctions on the Taliban affect the ability of international organizations to provide critical assistance?.While these efforts are welcome, they leave unaddressed several acute challenges that prevent critical financial flows from reaching Afghanistan.Įarlier this month, the Center for Global Development held a private workshop focused on addressing three urgent questions: The G20 is also focused on Afghanistan and recently issued a statement of shared principles and agreed-upon actions that signal consensus among members on the need to prevent a humanitarian disaster. Pre-Taliban takeover, the UN was helping eight million Afghans new money will enable them to do more. International commitments-including $1.2 billion in donor pledges made in response to a UN appeal in September-should help reduce the severity of the humanitarian crisis. To help ease the toll on the millions of ordinary Afghans facing the double predicament of a Taliban takeover and economic crisis, the international community has taken some important steps. Private funds, including remittances, have also dried up. Most development assistance to the aid-dependent country stopped the moment the Taliban took Kabul, as the United States (which has provided nearly half of total aid to Afghanistan over the last two decades) and allied countries moved to restrict any funding that could benefit the Taliban. Facing food shortages, rising prices, and a breakdown in public services, millions of ordinary Afghans need immediate assistance as their country veers toward economic collapse.Įven before the Taliban took over the government in August, the Afghan economy was buckling under the COVID-19 pandemic, severe drought, intensifying conflict, and loss of investor confidence. As Afghanistan enters its harsh winter season, a massive humanitarian disaster appears increasingly likely.
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