Afghanistan heading toward collapse as half the country faces acute food insecurity

Kabul, October 28 (RHC)-- Pakistan’s information minister warned Afghanistan is on the brink of collapse and urged the international community to engage with the Taliban and unfreeze billions of dollars of Afghan assets overseas in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster.

The U.N. reports over half the Afghan population is likely to face acute food insecurity this winter.  Forty-five percent of the population — nearly 19 million Afghans — are already experiencing high levels of food insecurity. 

In Afghanistan, the economic crisis following the Taliban takeover in August has compounded an already dire situation, marked by massive displacement from the conflict and a severe drought in a majority-rural nation. 

Afghanistan’s fragile health system is also facing critical shortages of medicine, food for malnourished children and staff. 

In related news, a Pentagon official told Congress that the Islamic State in Afghanistan could be capable of attacking the U.S. within six months.  The official would not elaborate.