Kabul, Afghanistan – A number of people protested in Kabul on Tuesday to call on the United States to release Afghanistan's frozen bank assets and prevent the economic collapse of the country.

The pro-Taliban protesters also chanted "Death to America!"

Unlike the suppression of other civil protests, the Taliban officials and social media activists widely campaigned for the gathering, and their foot soldiers provided them with security.

More than $9 billion from the Afghan central bank is parked outside Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country in August that led to a chaotic withdrawal of the international forces.

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The Taliban's de facto government is suffering financially and is unable to provide basic services. The country’s economy is in free fall. Millions of Afghans have lost their main source of income.

No country has recognized the Taliban regime yet.

The international community has repeatedly called on the Taliban to respect women and human rights and form an inclusive government in return for international recognition, but the hardliners keep ignoring them.

Observers believe the Taliban are using starving Afghans not just to extort money out of other countries but also to establish recognition of their regime.

A group of 48 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) signed a letter on Monday urging the Biden administration to unfreeze the assets.

"As you transition into a new phase of our relationship with the country and people of Afghanistan, we stand with American allies and humanitarian experts in urging the United States to avoid harsh economic measures that will directly harm Afghan families and children," they wrote.

"This means conscientiously but urgently modifying current U.S. policy regarding the freeze of Afghanistan's foreign reserves and ongoing sanctions."

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Citing the UN, they noted that millions of Afghans are facing food shortages this winter, with one million children in danger of starvation. The poverty rate is expected to rise to around 98% by mid-2022.

They progressive politicians argued that the US' refusal to release $9.4 billion in Afghan currency reserves is only making matters worse.

"Punitive economic measures will not weaken Taliban leaders, who will be shielded from the direst consequences, while the overwhelming impact of these measures will fall on innocent Afghans who have already suffered decades of war and poverty."

If the US continues to refuse, the CPC members warn that the current policy could result in "more civilian deaths in the coming year than were lost in 20 years of war."