Taliban prime minister to the Afghans: “Pray to God you survive the famine”
di Marjana Sadat , di Marjana SadatIn what appears to be an audio speech from the Taliban prime minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund the international community has been asked to release Afghanistan’s frozen assets. The prime minister also told his people to pray to God to solve the economic crisis.
The Taliban's appointed prime minister called on international charity organizations on Saturday, November 27, to help the Afghan people as they face starvation. At the same time, he urged Afghans to be grateful to the Taliban.
Recently, the United Nations announced that in Afghanistan 19 million people are suffering from hunger, and their number will increase to 23 million by the end of the year. Persistent insecurity, an economic crisis, shortage of food and…
In what appears to be an audio speech from the Taliban prime minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund the international community has been asked to release Afghanistan’s frozen assets. The prime minister also told his people to pray to God to solve the economic crisis.
The Taliban's appointed prime minister called on international charity organizations on Saturday, November 27, to help the Afghan people as they face starvation. At the same time, he urged Afghans to be grateful to the Taliban.
Recently, the United Nations announced that in Afghanistan 19 million people are suffering from hunger, and their number will increase to 23 million by the end of the year. Persistent insecurity, an economic crisis, shortage of food and fuel, the rising prices of basic necessities, poverty and hunger are amongst the causes of people's frustration with the Taliban government.
The Taliban had announced the prime minister would deliver his speech for the first time through National Radio Television Afghanistan [RTA]. That night they broadcast an audio message with his picture. In his 30 minutes statement he blamed the former government for current difficulties, and said “God will provide food for the people”.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, blamed the former US backed government for unemployment and the economic recession, and told the Afghan people they should be grateful to the Taliban. He added they should be careful because hidden members of the former government are trying to mislead them and discourage them from trusting the Taliban's government.
The UN have warned that Afghan people are facing an unparalleled famine and economic collapse. World countries, in particular the US, have refused to recognize the Taliban's government. The international community has suspended its financial aid, which represents 70% of Afghansitan's economic assets. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund do not allow Afghanistan loans.
Western countries will not recognize the Taliban's government nor lift their sanctions unless the Taliban respect women's rights and form an inclusive government. However, Mullah Hassan claimed that the Taliban government is new and inclusive as it includes representatives of all the ethnic groups present in Afghanistan. He also said that removing women from governmental positions and from work has kept their dignity. And yet, more than 90 percent of the all-male Taliban's cabinet belong to just one ethnic group alone.
“We ask all the international charity organizations to not withold thei aid to help our exhausted nation... so that the problems of the people could be solved” he said, and urged the US to unlock Afghan frozen funds. A wide range of reactions to Mullah Mohammad Hassan's remarks appeared on social media. Lots of people criticized the Talian prime minister for his silence. But he gave a speech before restarting talks between the Taliban and US delegations in Doha, Qatar. Mullah Mohammad Hassan promised the government would “not interfere” in other countries' internal affairs.
Link to the Italian version