Mullah Baradar Visits Earthquake-Hit Kunar Two Weeks After Disaster
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy economic minister, visited Kunar province nearly two weeks after a devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, promising support and calling for the lifting of international sanctions to facilitate aid.
Kokcha News Agency: Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy economic minister, arrived in Kunar province on Friday, nearly two weeks after a deadly earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan.
Baradar, who had previously visited Dasht-e-Leili in Jowzjan province to pray for Taliban casualties, stated that he would have been with the earthquake victims on the first day had he not been in the north.
During his visit, Baradar met with survivors of the earthquake, which killed over 2,200 people and injured more than 3,600 in Kunar, Laghman, and Nangarhar provinces.
He called on the international community to lift sanctions on Afghanistan to ease the delivery of aid to those affected. Baradar also urged local traders and charitable organizations to continue their support for the earthquake victims.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had earlier stated that sanctions prevented Afghans abroad from sending aid to the earthquake-hit regions. Baradar emphasized that efforts are underway to rebuild destroyed homes and provide necessary resources for the affected areas.
