KABUL, 12 April 2022, (TON): The picturesque Band-e-Amir was a popular tourist destination in the past but the US sanctions on Afghanistan have ruined people’s joy here.

Mohammad Sadat, 25, from the capital city of Kabul, came to enjoy the natural beauty and clean atmosphere in Band-e-Amir lakes.

He said “economic problems and poverty “have ruined the lives of Afghans and without money, you can’t come here for fun.”

There are few tourists in Band-e-Amir, which is part of Afghanistan’s national park situated in the central Bamiyan province, and is comprised of six natural lakes and separated by natural dams made of travertine.

Mostafa, another visitor from eastern Nangarhar province said “the business here in the past was hustle-bustle. The people of Bamiyan had restaurants and hotels here to serve the visitors but unfortunately, all have almost closed and there is nothing this year.”

In the wake of the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country’s power in August last year, Washington has frozen some 9 billion US dollars of Afghan assets, which has worsened the war-torn country’s already fragile economy.