The World Bank has issued a clarification in response to inaccurate reports by several news outlets concerning payments under World Bank-financed projects in Afghanistan. The payments in question relate to outstanding liabilities owed by the former government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to contractors engaged under these projects, who had fulfilled their obligations before August 15, 2021.
These contracts were originally made between the Republic government and the contractors, placing the responsibility for settling these debts on the Republic government rather than on the World Bank. The World Bank is currently engaged in a multi-phased process aimed at facilitating these outstanding payments. However, it is not a party to these contracts and is involved solely in facilitating payment through an exceptional process that includes rigorous validation and independent third-party verification.
A recent statement from the World Bank addressed this process and highlighted the technical-level coordination required to complete it. It emphasized that significant progress has been achieved, marking an important milestone. Nonetheless, no discussions or agreements have been made regarding the re-initiation of previous projects.
For further details on the World Bank's current involvement in Afghanistan, information can be accessed at their official website: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/afghanistan