China calls for lifting of Afghan asset freeze

(CLO) China once again urged relevant countries to promptly release and return Afghanistan's overseas assets.

On December 15, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2763, extending the mandate of the group monitoring sanctions against the Taliban and related individuals and organizations for another 14 months.

China's permanent representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang stressed that China supports the monitoring team to strengthen cooperation with the Afghan interim government. He also expressed hope that the team will make an in-person visit to Afghanistan soon.

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China calls on relevant countries to immediately end unilateral sanctions and return all of Afghanistan’s overseas assets. Geng Shuang asserted that these measures are obstacles to the country’s economic recovery and improvement of people’s lives.

Afghanistan's foreign assets remain frozen under sanctions against the Taliban. The Taliban government has repeatedly requested access to these funds, but the US and its allies have refused, citing human rights concerns.

Salman Bashir, Pakistan’s former ambassador to China, said China’s stance was consistent with the latest Security Council resolution. He stressed that while the Taliban needed to do more to curb terrorist activities from Afghanistan, freezing the country’s assets was no longer appropriate, especially as the Taliban government increased international cooperation.

Imtiaz Gul, director of the Pakistan Center for Security Studies, noted that China has made it clear that terrorism and human rights issues should be treated separately. He stressed that Afghanistan under Taliban control has achieved a certain level of stability over the years, enough to warrant the release of assets.

According to China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Tong, Afghanistan is facing many challenges such as food shortages, natural disasters and 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. However, the Afghan interim government has made efforts to rebuild the economy and strengthen regional cooperation.

Khalid Taimur Akram, Director of the Center for Pakistan Studies, said that lifting sanctions and returning frozen assets is not only a moral obligation but also a strategic step to promote regional peace and development.

Cao Phong (China Daily, Al Jazeera)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/trung-quoc-keu-goi-do-bo-phong-oa-tai-san-cua-afghanistan-o-nuoc-ngoai-post325970.html