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Afghanistan's deadliest earthquake in two decades struck the country last week, with tremors felt as far away as India and Pakistan. More than 1,000 people died in the disaster, and heavy rain, threadbare resources and rugged terrain hamper rescue workers. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Taliban appealed to the international community for rescue effort support. Before the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, public healthcare was almost entirely funded by foreign money. However, most of that aid was frozen on 15 August last year when the Taliban took control of the government, sending hospitals and medical facilities into near collapse. The 麻豆社's Yalda Hakim spoke to Taliban's Abdul Qahar Balkhi from Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He blames the international community for the perilous situation in his country, saying that the freezing of accounts, the imposition of sanctions and the cutting of aid has badly affected the lives of everyday Afghans. In response to a question about human rights in Afghanistan, he says discussions with the international community can happen if aid is also reviewed. On girls' education, he confirmed his government has made commitments to their secondary education but blamed a "technical problem" for why many girls still go without. "You cannot change a culture by sanctions" Photo: People wait for aid in a villages in Khost province, Afghanistan, after the earthquake hit Credit: Getty Images
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