Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers struggled to keep the country functioning on Wednesday (September 1) after the final withdrawal of US forces, with foreign donors alarmed about an impending humanitarian crisis.
(With Reuters inputs)
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Two weeks since the Taliban's sweep into the capital Kabul brought a chaotic end to 20 years of warfare, the Islamist militants have yet to name a new government or reveal how they intend to rule. In an administrative vacuum, prices have soared and crowds have gathered at banks to withdraw cash.
Heavily-armed fighters have imposed control on Kabul, but Taliban officials were grappling with keeping hospitals and government machinery running following the end of a huge airlift of foreigners and Afghans who had helped Western forces.
(Pic: IANS)
The new, Taliban-appointed central bank head has sought to reassure banks the group wants a fully-functioning financial system, but has so far given little detail on how it will supply funds for it, bankers familiar with the matter said.
(Pic: Reuters)
The immediate concern for them now is staving off economic collapse. Afghanistan desperately needs money, and the Taliban are unlikely to get swift access to the roughly $10 billion in assets mostly held abroad by the Afghan central bank. The Taliban have ordered banks to re-open but strict weekly limits on withdrawals have been imposed.
The foreign minister of neighbouring Pakistan, which has close ties to the Taliban, said he expected Afghanistan to have a new "consensus government" within days. Meanwhile, people fearful of life under Taliban rule rushed to the borders.
(Pic: PTI)
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