Since the political change in Afghanistan, nearly three years have passed under international sanctions on the banking sector. These sanctions, primarily led by the United States, have significantly impacted the daily lives and businesses of Afghans, creating numerous challenges and obstacles.
Due to the banking sanctions, Afghans and businesspeople face extensive difficulties in their daily activities. The banking systems are crippled, money transfers are complicated, and establishing connections with international markets is nearly impossible. As a result, ordinary Afghans bear the heavy cost of these sanctions every day, while the activities of the Afghan caretaker government are minimally affected.
To address this issue, there is a third way that regional countries, particularly China, Russia, Central Asian countries, and Iran, should establish joint financial institutions or banking systems among themselves. For this approach to be effective, these countries need to create independent financial institutions or joint banks that operate contrary to the preferences of the United States, allowing ordinary Afghans and businesspeople to conduct their daily transactions easily.
This third way can create an alternative financial system for Afghans that mitigates the impact of international sanctions. Regional countries with deep historical, economic, and cultural ties with Afghanistan can play a significant role in this regard.
Furthermore, cooperation among regional countries and the establishment of a joint financial system can not only resolve the issues faced by Afghans but also present a substantial opportunity for these countries to strengthen their economic and trade relations with each other. For this to happen, it is essential that these countries work together to create a system that effectively circumvents international sanctions and establishes a sustainable financial and economic system for Afghans.
Banking sanctions have made the daily lives of Afghans difficult. People cannot transfer their money freely, businesspeople cannot easily trade with international partners, and the processes of receiving and sending money have become very complicated. While the Afghan caretaker government can manage some activities despite these sanctions, ordinary people and businesspeople are in a very difficult situation.
In this context, regional countries such as China, Russia, Central Asian countries, and Iran can establish a new banking cooperation system as a third way. This system would be an independent financial exchange system among the regional countries that can operate without the influence of U.S. sanctions.
Establishing this system would provide an alternative financial system for Afghans, reducing the impact of international sanctions and creating a sustainable financial and economic system for them. It would not only solve the problems faced by Afghans but also present a significant opportunity for regional countries to strengthen their economic and trade relations with each other.