Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: Taliban asked US Wednesday to return $3.5 billion in assets to Afghanistan’s central bank following a US judge’s ruling that the relatives of victims in the 9/11 attacks cannot take the funds.
US, Taliban tussle over assets
The US took control of the assets soon following the Taliban return to power in Kabul in 2021, with US President Joe Biden saying the assets could be given to the relatives of 9/11 victims.
The Taliban welcomed the court verdict and said that the funds belong to Afghanistan.
Bilal Karimi, a deputy government spokesperson told the media that no excuse should be made to freeze the assets of Afghanistan. He maintained that the assets must be returned without any conditions to Kabul.
Over 2,900 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
