Status: 02.09.2021 9:32 p.m.
After the Taliban came to power, the situation is precarious for many Afghans. Foreign Minister Maas has now said that Germany can resume development aid under certain conditions. Talks with the Taliban are inevitable.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has given the radical Islamic Taliban the prospect that Germany will resume the currently stopped development aid payments for Afghanistan. A prerequisite, however, is a government that does not only consist of the Taliban, said the SPD politician at the beginning of consultations with EU counterparts in Slovenia. In addition, basic human and women’s rights must be protected.
Diplomatic presence on site?
Maas urged to act unanimously. “There is a new reality in Afghanistan – whether we like it or not,” he said. There is no getting around talks with the Taliban, he made clear. Most people would not be able to leave the country because of the closed borders. A “humanitarian catastrophe” threatens. In order to help the people, one has to “speak to the Taliban”. A diplomatic presence on site is also necessary for this.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said it was “not about recognizing the Taliban”. The central question now is how millions of people can be helped. The Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg spoke of a massive “leap of confidence” that the EU is bringing towards the Taliban. Nevertheless, talks are necessary to avert the threat of terrorism. “Afghanistan must not become a black hole in security policy,” he stressed.
USA allow personal money transfers
While the EU members are still trying to find a common course against the Taliban, the US has taken the first steps to help the civilian population. The Treasury Department allowed banks to send private money transfers to Afghanistan. A spokesman confirmed this. The decision could support the ailing Afghan economy: Many Afghans rely on remittances from abroad to buy groceries, among other things.
According to the World Bank, payments totaled an estimated $ 789 million in 2020, representing just over four percent of economic output. The financial service providers Western Union and Moneygram initially suspended such payments after the radical Islamic Taliban had actually taken power on August 15. Western Union now wants to resume service.