Jakarta –
Taliban angry at the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden. The Taliban’s anger was triggered by Biden’s policy of seizing assets worth Rp 100 trillion belonging to the previous Afghan government.
Reported from AFP and Associated PressSaturday (12/2/2022), Biden disbursed assets worth USD 7 billion or equivalent to Rp. 100 trillion belonging to the previous Afghan government which had been frozen since Taliban power back.
After being disbursed, half of the assets were confiscated for humanitarian aid for Afghans. The funds will be channeled without going through the Taliban.
Meanwhile, the other half was seized to fund US government payments in lawsuits filed by the families of victims of the September 9, 2001 attacks that are still ongoing in US courts.
Biden’s policy was marked by an executive order to block and seize Afghan assets signed on Friday (11/2) local time.
The $7 billion of Afghan assets have been held in the Central Bank of New York since the Taliban took power from the previous Western-backed government in August last year. Most of those assets came from foreign aid to the previous Afghan administration.
Until now, the US and other Western countries have not recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. However, the US admits that it is still looking for ways to distribute humanitarian aid without involving Taliban for the people of Afghanistan.
The disbursed assets are not disbursed immediately. Assets worth USD 3.5 billion (Rp 50 trillion) will be channeled to a trust or humanitarian aid agency ‘for the benefit of the Afghan people and for the future of Afghanistan’.
The other half will remain in the US. The funds are intended to finance the payment of lawsuits by the families of victims of the 9/11 attacks. It is known that many of the families of those killed or injured in the 9/11 attacks that occurred 20 years ago are still struggling to get compensation from Al-Qaeda and other responsible parties.
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