The Taliban regime pushed the country into poverty, two decades of development into the water

(PTI) Kabul, Dt

Afghanistan's economy has collapsed and the country has plunged into abject poverty as foreign sources of foreign aid have stalled since the Taliban overthrew an elected government. The Taliban regime has eroded Afghanistan's two decades of socio-economic development. In it, the United Nations has called on the world to help lift Afghanistan out of its economic and humanitarian crisis. The United States, meanwhile, has accused the Taliban of breach of promise, saying the interim government in Afghanistan runs counter to the international community's expectations.

Afghanistan is on the brink of 'universal poverty', which could become a reality in the middle of next year. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) says there is now a risk of starvation. As of now, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimates that Afghanistan's GDP will shrink between 7.5 per cent and 12.5 per cent in the next financial year, beginning in June 203. However, before the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the country's GDP was expected to grow by four per cent.

"Afghanistan could face universal poverty by the middle of next year," said Kanni Vignaraja, UNDP's Asia-Pacific director. This means that 2-3 per cent of the people in Afghanistan can be pushed below the poverty line. At present, the poverty rate here is 7%. In addition, economic aid to Afghanistan from around the world has stopped since the Taliban overthrew the elected government. As a result, all the development that the country has done in the last 20 years is likely to be washed away.

Per capita income in Afghanistan has more than doubled in the last 20 years, with the survival rate of a child rising from birth to almost nine years. The rate of education among women also increased and they got university education. But the political instability in Afghanistan, the seizure of foreign exchange, the collapse of the public financing system have created a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Deborah Leon, the UN special envoy, also said the world should help Afghanistan rebuild its shattered economy and bring the country out of the humanitarian crisis. The United States has seized ૯ 2 billion in reserves from Afghanistan's central bank. These funds should be released so that there can be some help in overcoming the humanitarian crisis in the country. Criticizing the Taliban, however, Leo said people working for the United Nations here were receiving constant threats from the Taliban. The lives of Afghan civilians are in danger there. The Taliban have also looted the United Nations office and beaten up staff.

Meanwhile, the Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan is in stark contrast to global society's expectations. The Taliban claimed to form a government with all parties and society, including women, in the country. But most of the members of the interim cabinet announced by the Taliban are members of radical terrorist groups.

Ministers from the Taliban's interim government, including Prime Minister Hassan Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Home Minister, are still on the UN blacklist of terrorists. The attitude of the Taliban in forming a new government is in stark contrast to the expectations of the international community. In fact, the Taliban have broken their promise to the international community. This is an interim government, so we have a look at how this government works and what the future government of Afghanistan will look like. Meanwhile, Pakistan, which has been helping the Taliban from the beginning, has announced to trade with it in Pakistani currency to alleviate the economic crisis in Afghanistan. In addition, Pakistan will send a team to help the Taliban on the economic front, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said.