Taliban security personnel riding a bike patrol a street as Afghan Shiite Muslim mourners carry out a procession to celebrate Ashura on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram in Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul on July 16, 2024. (WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images)

US Investigates Missing Aid Possibly Diverted to Taliban

Simcha Pasko

07/22/2024

A recent report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) raises concerns that approximately $293 million in US humanitarian aid intended for Afghanistan may have been diverted to the Taliban. The SIGAR report highlights compliance failures among Afghan bureaus receiving US funds, with only three of five providing the required documentation.

This has led the US State Department to recognize the necessity of an investigation to ensure that aid is not misappropriated. In response, Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied the allegations, stating that international aid is managed by NGOs and closely supervised by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Commerce, with no interference from the Taliban.

This information comes amid broader issues of oversight following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, as detailed by Arshad Mehmood for The Media Line.

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