The Taliban on Tuesday thanked the world for pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency aid to Afghanistan, and urged the United States to show "heart" to the impoverished country.
A donor conference in Geneva on Monday ended with pledges of $1.2 billion in aid for Afghanistan, which was taken over by the Taliban last month in a lightning offensive that took retreating US troops by surprise.
Afghanistan, already heavily dependent on aid, is facing an economic crisis, with the new authorities unable to pay salaries and food prices soaring.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the regime's acting foreign minister, told a press conference the Taliban would spend donor money wisely and use it to alleviate poverty.
"We thank and welcome the world's pledge for about one billion dollars in aid and ask them to continue their assistance to Afghanistan," Muttaqi said.
"The Islamic Emirate will try its best to deliver this aid to the needy people in a completely transparent manner," he said.
He also asked Washington to show appreciation for the Taliban allowing the US military to complete its troop withdrawal and evacuation of more than 120,000 people last month.
"America is a big country -- they need to have a big heart," he said.
Muttaqi said Afghanistan, which is also facing a drought, had already received aid from countries such as Pakistan, Qatar and Uzbekistan, but did not give further details.
He said he had held discussions with China's ambassador on the coronavirus vaccine and other humanitarian causes, with Beijing pledging $15 million that will be available "soon".
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Video: Private Equity CEO Arrested After Body-Slamming Teen At US Restaurant US Court Calls Google Monopolist, Says It Violates Competition Law JD Vance's Bestselling Tale From Rags To Riches Can Be His Political Tool How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death Muhammad Yunus Dials PM Modi, Assures Protection Of Hindus In Bangladesh Trump-Musk Chat Shows Innovation Alone Can Save Legacy Media Mob Sets Cars On Fire After 15-Year-Old Stabbed Inside Udaipur School On India-Bangladesh Border, A Strip Of Land Where Laws Of Both Apply Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.