KABUL — The Taliban-run Finance Ministry said Monday that the World Bank has agreed to begin repaying $50 million in outstanding debts owed to Afghan logistics and construction firms, following discussions between the two sides.
While the World Bank has not publicly confirmed the agreement, the Taliban-run ministry said in a statement that the repayment will be carried out in phases. The first installment, totaling $10.8 million, is expected to be disbursed soon, with the remaining $39.1 million to be paid in three subsequent phases through the Finance Ministry.
Taliban hailed the move as a “major financial breakthrough,” saying the repayments could help revive stalled development projects, generate employment, and strengthen the country’s struggling economy.
The World Bank, which froze much of its engagement in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, has maintained limited financial channels to support humanitarian and basic service delivery, often through third-party partners. It remains unclear whether the latest arrangement constitutes a broader shift in the bank’s posture toward direct engagement with Taliban-run institutions.
