The Taliban has outlawed the use of Pakistani rupees in Afghanistan, signalling a substantial strengthening of ties between the two countries.
The restriction on Pakistani money went into force on Saturday, October 1, according to Afghan news outlet Khaama Press. According to the report, the Taliban Intelligence Agency ruled that the use of Pakistani rupees in financial transactions in Afghanistan is “totally prohibited.”
This directive was delivered to the money exchange organisation by the Taliban agency’s anti-money laundering section. This injunction prohibits all financial activities, including but not limited to transfers, trading, and currency exchange.
According to the article, money exchange merchants are prohibited from executing transactions totaling more than 500,000 Rupees. If more than the specified amount is detected, the dealers may be prosecuted.
According to the Khaama article, this move comes at a time when several Afghans and traders utilise Pakistani Rupees for daily expenditures and food purchases.
Since the Taliban took control in August of last year, the relationship between the two sides has deteriorated for a variety of reasons, including increased border confrontations and the re-emergence of Pakistan’s proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The Taliban has accused Pakistan of allowing US drones to use its airspace to strike targets in the landlocked country.
The Taliban stated that Pakistan got a large quantity of money in exchange for enabling US bombings in Afghanistan, and that they have considerable proof to back up their accusations.
On July 31, the United States carried out a precise counterterrorism operation in Afghanistan, killing Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s deputy and Al-Qaeda commander.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has blamed the Taliban rule for the TTP’s resumption of assaults, which has exacerbated the country’s security crisis. According to media sources, September saw the highest number of terror events in Pakistan in a single month this year.
