KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s former president on Sunday called a White House order to unfreeze $3.5 billion in Afghan assets held in the United States for families of 9/11 victims an atrocity against the Afghan people.
Former President Hamid Karzai, at a packed news conference, sought the help of Americans, particularly the families of the thousands killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, to press President Joe Biden to rescind last week’s order. He called it “unjust and unfair,” saying Afghans have also been victims of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
President Joe Biden’s order signed last Friday freed $7 billion in Afghan assets currently held in the U.S., to be divided between 9/11 victims and humanitarian aid to Afghans. Meanwhile, Biden’s order calls for the $3.5 billion allocated to humanitarian aid to be put into a trust and be used to assist Afghans, bypassing their Taliban rulers.
Afghanistan’s economy is teetering on the brink of collapse after international money stopped coming into the country with the arrival in mid-August of the Taliban. Last month, the United Nations made a $5 billion appeal for Afghanistan. The U.N. warns that 1 million children are in danger of starving and 90% of Afghans live below the poverty level of just $1.90 a day.
Karzai used the news conference to press the country’s Taliban rulers and their opponents to find a way to come together. He lobbied for the traditional Afghan grand council, or loya jirga, as a means to find consensus and establish a more representative administration.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Last Afghan evacuees prepare to depart Defense Department installations in USThe last several hundred Afghan evacuees who have been living on domestic military bases are expected to depart those installations over the next week, according to a Homeland Security official.
Read more »
Former Colleague Testifies Ex-Angels Employee Eric Kay Saw Tyler Skaggs Do DrugsEric Prescott Kay, who faces charges of drug distribution and drug conspiracy, confided in Adam Chodzko about two weeks after Skaggs’ 2019 death that he was in Skaggs’ room, Chodzko testified at trial.
Read more »
Ex-U.S. naval engineer charged with submarine espionage pleads guiltyA former U.S. Navy engineer charged with attempting to sell secrets about nuclear submarines to a foreign power pleaded guilty on Monday as part of a deal with prosecutors.
Read more »
US asks Honduras to arrest, extradite ex-President HernándezTEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — The United States has asked Honduras to arrest former President Juan Orlando Hernández for his eventual extradition to the U.S., officials confirmed Monday. National Police and soldiers surrounded the neighborhood around Hernández's home Monday night.
Read more »
Ben Affleck and Ex Ana de Armas' Erotic Thriller 'Deep Water' Drops Tense Teaser TrailerThe psychological thriller from director Adrian Lyne (Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal) stars real-life exes Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas as a married duo and delves into 'the dangerous mind games they play and what happens to the people that get caught up in them.' The movie hits Hulu on March 18.
Read more »
Kanye West sends ex Kim Kardashian a truck full of roses on Valentine's DayKanye West and Kim Kardashian have been married since 2014, though the former couple - who share four children - are in the process of divorcing
Read more »