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With China’s help, the Taliban will fight for an economic return to Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid told the Italian newspaper.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told an Italian newspaper that the group will rely mainly on funding from China following the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and its takeover of the country.
In his interview published Thursday by La Repubblica, Mujahid said the Taliban would fight for an economic comeback with help from China.
The Taliban took control of the Afghan capital, Kabul, on August 15 as the country’s western-backed government collapsed, ending 20 years of war amid fears of an economic collapse and widespread famine.
Following the chaotic departure of foreign troops from Kabul airport in recent weeks, Western states have severely restricted their aid payments to Afghanistan.
“China is our most important partner and represents a fundamental and extraordinary opportunity for us, as it is ready to invest and rebuild our country,” the Taliban spokesman said in the interview.
He said the New Silk Road – an infrastructure initiative with which China wants to increase its global influence by opening trade routes – was held in high regard by the Taliban.
There are “rich copper mines in the country, which, thanks to the Chinese, can be brought back into operation and modernized.” In addition, China is our pass to markets around the world.
Mujahid also confirmed that women would be allowed to continue their studies at universities in the future. He said women could work as nurses, in the police or as assistants in ministries, but ruled out that there are women ministers.
Afghanistan is in desperate need of money, and the Taliban is unlikely to have quick access to the roughly $ 10 billion in assets here held mostly overseas by the Afghan central bank.
Earlier this week, UN chief Antonio Guterres warned of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan and urged countries to provide emergency funding as severe drought and war forced thousands of families fleeing their homes.
Guterres expressed “grave concern over the worsening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country”, adding that basic services threatened to “completely” collapse.
“Now more than ever, Afghan children, women and men need the support and solidarity of the international community,” he said in a statement on Tuesday as he pleaded for financial support from nations .
“I urge all Member States to dig deep for the Afghan people in their darkest hour. I urge them to provide timely, flexible and comprehensive funding, ”said the UN Secretary General.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the current UN humanitarian appeal of $ 1.3 billion for Afghanistan is only 39% funded.
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