Controversial Cash Flow: Has The U.S. Really Handed Billions To Taliban Since Exit?

The Biden administration's handling of various crises, including the border situation, inflation, and energy policies, has been widely criticized. This article focuses on another contentious issue: the administration's financial aid to the Taliban-controlled Afghan government following the withdrawal debacle.

Samantha Power, the head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), recently disclosed the extent of the U.S. financial assistance to Afghanistan.

"The United States is the single largest humanitarian donor in Afghanistan, providing nearly $2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Afghans since mid-August 2021, including more than $1.46 billion from USAID," Power stated. However, this revelation has sparked criticism, with detractors arguing that it underscores the Biden administration's misguided approach to Afghanistan.

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In addition to the financial aid, the chaotic nature of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 resulted in the abandonment of billions of dollars' worth of weapons and armaments. As reported by Bob Hoge in March, much of this military equipment ended up in the hands of the Taliban. The Taliban subsequently released images of the abandoned military hardware, further fueling criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal.

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The administration's continued financial support to Afghanistan has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of the Taliban's ongoing actions. Recently, nearly 20 staff members of a charity organization, including one U.S. national, were arrested by regional officials in the Taliban-controlled nation.

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The detainees, who worked for The International Assistance Mission (IAM) in Ghor province, were accused of "propagating and promoting Christianity," a violation of the Taliban’s strict regulations on non-governmental groups, according to Abdul Wahid Hamas, the spokesman for the regional administration in Ghor province.

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An anonymous local employee of IAM in Ghor province confirmed to CBS News that the detained foreign employee was a U.S. woman. In a statement to CBS News, IAM declined to confirm the nationality of the detained foreign worker, citing respect for the family and ongoing efforts to secure their release.

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Despite these developments, the Biden administration continues to provide financial aid to the Taliban-controlled Afghan government, a move that has been met with widespread criticism.

Critics argue that U.S. taxpayer dollars should not be funneled to a regime that continues to violate human rights and international norms. The full implications of the Biden administration's policies towards Afghanistan, however, remain to be seen.