Former Afghan president urges Taliban to allow opposition leaders to return

Kabul, Feb 13 (EFE).- Former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai on Sunday urged the Taliban to allow the return of political leaders who have gone into exile since the Islamists seized power in August and to hold a national assembly to decide the country’s future, which is close to an economic collapse.

“I have written a letter to the Islamic Emirate and asked them for facilitate the conditions for the return of politicians back to the country,” Karzai said in a press conference in Kabul.

The letter, also signed by the former chief of the erstwhile high council for national reconciliation – Abdullah Abdullah = asked the Taliban to “pave the way for a Loya Jirga (national assembly), in which people can decide on the future of the country.”

The ex-president also joined a chorus of voices criticizing the United States’ recent decision to distribute half of the frozen Afghan funds in American accounts, worth $7 billion, to victims of the 9/11 attacks, a move described as “stealing” by the Taliban.

“The people of Afghanistan are as much victims of terrorism as the people of the US, and no one should punish the victims,” said Karzai, urging US President Joe Biden to reconsider the decision.

Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian and economic crisis, which has been aggravated by the Taliban seizing power on Aug. 15 and the freezing of funds and overseas aid subsequently.

The Taliban have been facing international sanctions and have not been recognized by the international community, amid criticism over the lack of representation for minorities and women in their government and the lack of freedom of expression in the country. EFE

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