The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August plunged the country into economic crisis. (REUTERS: Jorge Silva)
Reuters: Afghanistan heading towards collapse faster than expected, Swedish minister warns
DUBAI (Reuters) - Afghanistan is heading towards economic collapse that risks spiralling the country into a new political crisis, Sweden's minister for international development cooperation warned on Saturday.
Afghanistan has been plunged into crisis following the collapse of the Western-backed government and Taliban take over in August, which was met with an abrupt end of billions of dollars in assistance to its aid-dependent economy.
"My concern is that the country is on the brink of collapse and that collapse is coming faster than we thought," Per Olsson Fridh told Reuters in Dubai, warning that economic freefall could provide an environment for terror groups to thrive.
Read more ....
Update #1: Swedish minister says Afghanistan could be 'on the brink of collapse' faster than anticipated (The Hill)
Update #2: Humanitarian catastrophe looms for Afghanistan if major powers deny Taliban rule, Pakistan warns (ABC News Australia)
WNU Editor: Every country is saying that Afghanistan is heading towards collapse, and that aid should be given immediately. But aside from humanitarian assistance, no one is ponying up the billions that it will take for Afghanistan to stabilize, and no one will certainly give the Taliban access to billions in dollars considering their history of terrorism and brutality.
So what is next?
Everyone is looking at the US to open the spigot and resume the billions that they were sending to Afghanistan before the fall.
Yeah .... that is not going to happen.
The crisis is also exposing the hypocrisy of some countries, and one of them is Pakistan. Their demand that the US provide the Taliban billions to avert the collapse that is concurring is galling, especially since it is Pakistan that gave support and safety to the group that are now trying to govern Afghanistan.
If you break it, you own it. And Pakistan certainly helped in breaking Afghanistan.
Update #3: It is going to get worse .... Eight Orphan Children Found Dead From Starvation In Kabul (RFE).
