RASC News Agency: Hedayatullah Badri, the head of the Taliban group’s Central Bank, has reportedly advocated for the transformation of Afghanistan’s banking system into an Islamic framework, encompassing not only its form but also its content. As per Afghanistan National Radio and Television, Badri has sought support from international Islamic institutions and organizations to realize this objective. Speaking at a session of the Islamic Development Bank in Bahrain, Badri articulated his intention to eradicate interest and usury from Afghanistan’s banking system, aligning it comprehensively with Sharia standards.
Badri’s pronouncements come in the midst of reports highlighting corruption within the Taliban group’s governmental institutions and allegations against its members. Despite these challenges, Badri has journeyed to Bahrain to partake in the two-day Islamic Development Bank meeting, during which he advocated for an Islamic banking system in Afghanistan. It’s noteworthy that the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) recently issued a report expressing concerns about the Taliban group’s interference in the affairs of the Central Bank of Afghanistan, posing risks to the nation’s economy and assets.
To safeguard Afghanistan’s assets and ensure secure transfers, the US Department of the Treasury has established a trust fund. However, the Taliban group’s involvement in the Central Bank of Afghanistan raises apprehensions about the safety of these assets presently held in Switzerland. Badri’s call for an Islamic banking system introduces additional complexities, leaving uncertainty about its implementation and its potential impact on the country’s economy. As disclosed in the 52-page SIGAR report, the US Department of the Treasury instituted this fund to protect Afghanistan’s assets and facilitate their transfer to the Central Bank of Afghanistan, based on available information.
