Afghanistan Crisis: G20 leaders pledge to avert economic catastrophe

By: Ryan Oswald, Staff Reporter, The Pawprint

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the country should not be allowed to “descend into chaos”. The UN urged world leaders to put billions of dollars into the Afghan economy.

US President Joe Biden stressed that aid should be provided via independent international organisations and not directly to the ruling Taliban.

Pledges include a promise by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to give €1bn ($1.15bn; £850m) to Afghanistan and to neighbouring countries taking in refugees.

“None of us has anything to gain if the entire monetary system in Afghanistan collapses or the financial system collapses,” von der Leyen told reporters.