Guwahati News Desk: Making a move that could further disrupt the economy on the brink of collapse, the Taliban has now banned the use of foreign currencies in Afghanistan.
The Taliban made the announcement about imposing the ban across the country on Tuesday.
The Taliban said, “The economic situation and national interests in the country require that all Afghans use Afghani currency in their every trade.”
The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement posted online, “The Islamic Emirate instructs all citizens, shopkeepers, traders, businessmen and the general public to henceforth conduct all transactions in Afghanis and strictly refrain from using foreign currency.’
He added, “Anyone violating this order will face legal action.”
Moreover, the economy of Afghanistan has been struggling severely due to the withdrawal of international financial support after the Taliban took control.
After the Taliban seized control of the country in August, billions of dollars worth Afghanistan’s overseas assets were frozen by the US Federal Reserve and central banks in Europe.
The Taliban has called for the release of Afghanistan’s assets that are being held overseas as the nation faces a severe cash crunch.
In addition, the country is also suffering from a severe drought, which has ruined much of its wheat crop and sent prices soaring.
The United Nations World Food Programme has warned that millions of Afghans could face starvation due to a combination of the drought, conflict and Covid-19.
However, although Western powers have said that they want to avoid a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, they have refused to officially recognise the Taliban government.