KABUL, 03 January 2022, (TON): Dozens of people in a rally in Kabul called for the release of around $9 billion in the central bank assets blocked by the United States following the fall of the republic government in mid-August.

The rally members also asked Muslim nations and the international community to recognize the Islamic Emirate (IE) and advocate for the release of Afghan assets.

Abubakr Zaland, a protester said “Afghanistan is faced with huge problems amidst a harsh winter. The protesters’ demand is that Afghanistan’s assets are unblocked. The money belongs to the people of Afghanistan.”

Mohammad Nasim Zawak, a protester said “people have protested here for the release of Afghan assets. We urge the world, especially the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, to recognize the current government.”

The rally members said the international community will be responsible if any crisis happens in the country.

They asked the international community to engage with the Islamic Emirate to avert a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Hamidullah, a protester said “our today’s protest is to call on the international community to recognize the current government and engage with it.”

The protesters issued a 12-article statement, listing their demands and asking the international community to address their problems.