Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Taliban government announced on Thursday that the World Bank is poised to reopen its office in Afghanistan in the near future, signaling a resumption of dozens of development projects in the country.
This development unfolds against the backdrop of a severe economic and social crisis faced by Afghanistan’s interim government, heightened by a notable reduction in international aid since the Taliban regained power in August 2021.
Finance Ministry spokesperson Ahmad Wali Haqmal revealed, “The World Bank will recommence its operations within one month. It has agreed to initiate payments for approximately 45 incomplete projects in Afghanistan.” The agreement resulted from continuous negotiations between the Taliban government and the global lender, which had suspended almost all development projects since the Taliban’s return to power two years ago.
In March 2022, the World Bank had initially announced the resumption of several agriculture, education, and health projects valued at $600 million, funded through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. However, these projects were subsequently suspended when the Taliban prohibited girls from returning to secondary schools.
With Afghanistan grappling with a deep economic and social crisis after four decades of war and chaos, the Taliban’s takeover in 2021 has added complexity to the delivery of humanitarian aid for the country’s reconstruction.Top of Form
