The United States must prevent a disaster that will cost the lives of millions.
Since the last man stepped foot off the sands of Afghanistan, the nation has been under the management of the Taliban, a political and military jihadist organization that is rightfully unrecognized in the eyes of the international community. Their mistreatment of women and inclination to support terrorist groups are addressed with the removal of international aid, the prevention to enter trade partnerships, and the inability to establish business connections. But, these courses of action, prompted mainly by Western countries, should be questioned as they are contributing to an economic crisis which will lead to an unimaginable humanitarian disaster for the Afghan people.
Specifically, American foreign aid, which made up 45% of Afghanistan’s GDP and 75% of its budget, has been cut off by the Biden Administration, along with American cash and Afghanistan’s $9.5 billion in foreign reserves. As a result, the working and middle classes of the country are going on without pay. Without enough revenues and trade opportunities, the Afghan government cannot produce enough food and necessities to feed the general public, leading to high costs and shortages. Without U.S. dollars, Afghan banks are left with nothing in their treasury, meaning no opportunities for investments and loans for the people and the government.
To make the picture of this crisis more heartfelt, take an account of a 20-year old woman named Zarmina. She has an 18-month-old son and a 3-year-old daughter. Since the Taliban takeover, Zarmina’s husband lost his job as a laborer and the family is barely living off of bread and water. In reference to her children, Zarmina says, “They are crying to have food. I wish I could bring them something, but we have nothing.” Zarmina is 6-months pregnant and anemic. Zarmina’s children will be two of the one million Afghan children who will starve before the winter, according to the United Nations.
The survival of 22.8 million Afghan people can be ensured if the United States and the international community takes swift action to prop up Afghan banks, send international aid through the World Bank and other organizations, and, if need be, lift economic sanctions and promote trade with Afghanistan. The choice is difficult to make, as our support can be manipulated and used for the profit and empowerment of the Taliban as a whole.
Currently, the United States and the United Nations are extending the hand of help to the Afghan people while simultaneously preventing that aid to bolster the Taliban and its interests. However, if it comes down to the easing of every punishment and sanction of the Taliban-led Afghanistan as the only way to prevent a crisis, then the United States should pursue that course, only if the U.S. and the Taliban are willing to negotiate a proper settlement.
Because in the grand scheme of things, the lives of millions of people are in the hands of the United States. In addition to the mass starvation which will kill men, women, and children, there will be many who will flee to Pakistan, Iran, Europe, and other neighboring countries. This will cause the largest refugee crisis since 2015, leading to more internal strife, more deaths, and more lives ruined. Where there is injustice and the possibility of death, we must respond in any manner possible.
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