Minister Hina Rabbani Khar Speaks To German Media, Calls For Relief To Afghanistan

In an interview with German newspaper Welt that was published this week, Minister of the State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has called upon the Western countries to give Afghanistan’s economy respite from sanctions imposed in the aftermath of the NATO withdrawal from that country. Khar expressed the view that this approach would push the war-torn country into economic collapse. "In the current situation, it is not a good idea to continue to starve Afghanistan and risk an economic implosion in the country,” she said.

"If the country remains locked out of international banking and its foreign assets remain frozen, then that is what will happen. We must not promote famine," she told Welt.

As the Taliban-led regime took control of Afghanistan, the United States was soon followed by many countries in suspending development-related activities and aid involvement. Experts have warned that a worsening economic climate in Afghanistan could simply fuel continuing violence.

Minister Khar also appears to have been critical of the hurried exit by NATO forces without a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan.

"How is it that we spent $3 trillion on the war, but today don't even have $10 billion on Afghan survival? I don't understand this behaviour," she commented.