Aug 25, 2021 - World

World Bank suspends aid to Afghanistan after Taliban takeover

Erin Doherty

Taliban fighters in a vehicle patrol the streets of Kabul on August 23, 2021. — Taliban fighters patrol the streets of Kabul on Aug. 23, 2021. Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images

The World Bank has suspended financial aid to Afghanistan, citing concerns over how the Taliban's takeover will impact "the country's development prospects, especially for women," the BBC reports.

Driving the news: "We have paused disbursements in our operations in Afghanistan and we are closely monitoring and assessing the situation in line with our internal policies and procedures," a World Bank spokesperson told the BBC.

The World Bank on Friday told staff its Kabul-based team and their immediate families safely evacuated from Afghanistan to Pakistan, per the BBC.

The big picture: The move comes less than a week after the International Monetary Fund paused payments to Afghanistan.

The U.S. last week also froze billions of dollars worth of assets from American accounts held Afghanistan's central bank, an administration official told Axios.

What they're saying: "We will continue to consult closely with the international community and development partners," the World Bank spokesperson said.

"Together with our partners we are exploring ways we can remain engaged to preserve hard-won development gains and continue to support the people of Afghanistan."

Go deeper: Taliban won't have access to central bank reserves held in U.S.

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World Bank suspends aid to Afghanistan after Taliban takeover

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