Afghanistan: the Taliban and the starving Afghans

Seven billion dollars of Afghan money is frozen in U.S. banks. Even now it could probably save several hundred thousand innocent lives in Afghanistan if it were released to Kabul immediately. What Joe Biden has tried to do is free up half of it for humanitarian aid by giving the other half to American families who have lost relatives in terrorist attacks.

Because the Taliban have been designated as 'terrorists,' it is possible for the United States not only to embargo American aid and trade to Afghanistan, but also to block or at least seriously hinder efforts by other countries to send humanitarian aid. As a result, more than half the country’s people—23 million at last count—are suddenly near starvation, writes Gwynne Dyer. Screen capture image courtesy of PBS News

Opinion

BY GWYNNE DYER

February 17, 2022

LONDON, U.K.—Because the Taliban have been designated as "terrorists," it is possible for the United States not only to embargo American aid and trade to Afghanistan, but also to block or at least seriously hinder efforts by other countries to send humanitarian aid. As a result, more than half the...

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