Afghan Parliament Passes Bill To Secure Aid Funds

Afghan lawmakers have approved repaying the central bank for its bailout of Kabulbank, in a critical step for the release of blocked foreign aid funds.

According to the Finance Ministry, the bill provides for the repayment of up to $825 million in total over eight years, with a first installment of $51 million.

The vote in favor was nearly unanimous, with only two lawmakers voting against the bill.

Parliamentary approval of the repayment was a condition for renewal of an International Monetary Fund support program, halted since last September when reports of the Kabulbank crisis began to emerge.

Reuters