KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban-controlled central bank said Wednesday that Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has pledged support for Afghanistan’s financial and banking sector.
According to a statement from the bank, Otunbayeva discussed the potential for cooperation during a recent meeting with Noor Ahmad Agha, the Taliban-appointed central bank governor.
The UNAMA leader reportedly emphasized the importance of strengthening Afghanistan’s financial and banking sector to aid in the country’s economic recovery.
UNAMA has not yet commented on the meeting or Otunbayeva’s reported statements.
The international community has imposed sanctions on Afghanistan’s banking system since the Taliban’s return to power, citing restrictions and human rights concerns under Taliban governance. Meanwhile, the United Nations and related agencies continue to warn of escalating poverty and a severe reduction in humanitarian aid across the country.
Just last week, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported 173 instances in which Taliban interference disrupted aid operations in Afghanistan over the past month, leading to the suspension of 83 projects. OCHA noted that two aid organizations were forced to temporarily close, and one project had to be relocated.
