KABUL (Pajhwok): The US government is expected to resume negotiations with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on freeing up Kabul’s frozen foreign assets, a media report said on Monday.
Earlier in the month, the Biden administration put on ice talks with the Taliban government on unblocking the Afghan central bank’s foreign reserves of around $7 billion.
The negotiations were halted after the killing of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri during a CIA drone strike in Kabul.
Reuters reported the US decision was aimed to help stabilise Afghanistan's tattered economy and mounting worries over the current grim humanitarian situation in the war-devastated country.
Twelve days after the killing of al-Zawahiri, State Department and Treasury officials suggested the US would press ahead with the talks, according to the British media outlet.
One unnamed Biden administration official was quoted as saying: "The strike did not change the US government's commitment to setting up the international trust fund."
The release of the funds is vital to Da Afghanistan Bank efforts to restart key functions to check inflation, stabilise the afghani exchange rate and strengthen the economy.
PAN Monitor/mud
