Taliban experiencing problems fighting terrorism due to shortage of funds - Russian ambassador in Kabul

KABUL. Dec 1 (Interfax) - The Taliban (banned in Russia) is finding it difficult to wage an effective war on terrorism in Afghanistan due to a shortage of funds, Russian Ambassador in Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov said.

"Unfortunately, things began to take a turn for the worse in September, a month and a half after the Taliban took over Kabul and drove terrorists underground," Zhirnov told reporters on Wednesday.

The diplomat said the financial problems of the Taliban are connected to the freeze imposed on Afghanistan's accounts by the United States after the Taliban came to power.

"The new Afghan authorities have no money, as the financial accounts of the country have been frozen by the Americans and Western sanctions are paralyzing the Afghan banking system. It's hard to talk about an effective war on terrorism under these circumstances," Zhirnov said.