AFBT Condemns President’s Decision on Afghanistan’s Frozen Funds

Afghans For A Better Tomorrow, a group of dedicated progressive Afghan-American organizers, issue the following statement in response to an executive order by President Biden on Afghanistan’s frozen funds.

AFGHANS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW CONDEMNS PRESIDENT BIDEN’S DECISION ON AFGHANISTAN’S FROZEN FUNDS

February 11, 2022 WASHINGTON D.C. -

This morning, President Biden announced an unprecedented move to split Afghanistan’s $7.1 billion in reserves, held at the Federal Reserve of New York, between 9/11 victim families and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. This decision is short sighted, cruel, and will worsen a catastrophe in progress, affecting millions of Afghans, many of whom are on the verge of starvation.

Let us be clear: all of the $7.1 billion in reserves belongs, rightfully, to the people of Afghanistan and ought to be used to allow the Central Bank of Afghanistan (or Da Afghanistan Bank, DAB) to perform its basic functions. One way to alleviate the unspeakable suffering that is occuring in every corner of Afghanistan is to gradually and partially unfreeze the assets immediately, allowing the DAB to restore liquidity into the Afghan economy. This would be overseen by an independent auditor and ensure no money falls into Taliban hands.

We also urge the families of victims of the 9/11 attack who are pursuing litigation to engage with the Afghan-American community. We urge them to reconsider and drop their suit. Barry Amundson, who lost a brother in the Pentagon on that tragic day, said he fears “that the end result of seizing this money will be to cause further harm to innocent Afghans who have already suffered greatly.”

We wholeheartedly agree. As Afghans, we are no strangers to immense suffering and pain. For forty years, our friends and family too, have been the victims of senseless violence. Taking money which rightfully belongs to the Afghan people will not bring justice but ensure more misery and death in Afghanistan.