Biden Administration Points Finger at International Partners for Taliban Diverting U.S. Aid
Michael Hughes
November 17, 2023
The U.S. State Department shrugged its collective shoulders, so to speak, and seemed to say “not my problem” when pressed on the Taliban siphoning large portions of American humanitarian aid. Instead of taking any responsibility, the U.S. suggested international aid organizations should be blamed for getting ripped off by the radical movement.
On the one hand, to be fair, it seems impossible to avoid the Taliban meddling in aid deliveries. Yet, the bigger problem is that not a single senior U.S. official has thought twice about revising Washington’s approach to the situation. Keep the spigot open and let God sort it all out, the de facto strategy seems to be.
Despite exiting in August of 2021, the United States remains Afghanistan’s’ top donor, according to a recent report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). This includes about $2.5 billion for humanitarian and development aid, about $5 billion for refugee relocation assistance, and $3.5 billion to recapitalize Afghanistan’s central bank.
Since 2021, funds were used to address problems related to health, education, agriculture, food security, and human rights. These efforts are being executed by NGOs such as UNICEF and the World Food Program (WFP), and other implementing partners.
“We work with trusted international partners who have extensive experience working… [in] challenging environments like Afghanistan, where we have no presence,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing on Thursday. “In cases where the Taliban makes demands of our partners beyond routine operational costs, our partners pause or adjust their operations accordingly.”
Miller claimed the U.S. government has “robust” oversight measures in place to monitor the implementation of humanitarian assistance programs worldwide. Moreover, according to Miller, the United States ensures partners have appropriate mitigation measures in place “to help safeguard against diversion” so the aid flows to intended recipients.
“And if we need to take steps to change how we’re delivering our aid, we of course will always do so,” Miller added.
Perhaps now might be a good time to consider taking such steps, but the world should not hold its breath. SIGAR’s new assessment underscored the heart of the dilemma.
“The United States has not yet developed a new integrated country strategy for Afghanistan to account for conditions in the country since the Taliban takeover in August 2021,” the report said.
SIGAR chief John Sopko at a congressional hearing earlier in the week painted a vivid picture of Taliban shenanigans.
“Taliban officials routinely pressure U.S. partners to hire Taliban allies, insist that U.S. partners contract with Taliban-affiliated companies, dictate which Afghans should receive U.S. aid, demand payoffs from U.S. partners before a project can begin, divert U.S. food aid to Taliban soldiers, and tax recipients of aid once it is delivered,” Sopko said.
Sopko argued that although the Ghani and Karzai regimes plundered aid, the risks are higher with respect to the Taliban because of what the funding could be used for.
“The diversion of humanitarian assistance by the Taliban is of particular concern given the humanitarian crisis the populace face as well as the Taliban’s terrorist ties,” Sopko said. “Unlike with the prior Afghan governments, diverted funds now may fund terrorist activities.”
According to the SIGAR report, the Taliban’s meddling is only getting worse – up more than 30% in 2023. NGO staff members who tried to prevent the diversion of aid to non-eligible individuals were jailed by the Taliban. In August alone the Taliban arrested 26 aid workers. As a result of this and other meddling, 49 UN humanitarian partner programs suspended operations. The UN said the most significant operational challenges were delays in signing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) due to Taliban onerous restrictions – along with the radical movement’s impeding recruiting efforts.
SIGAR recommended that USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) boost the number of third-party monitor visits to Afghanistan. In addition, the watchdog called for “remote monitoring” of WFP food distribution sites.
The head of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McFaul, did not have much in way of actual recommendations during the hearing, but his fiery rhetoric apparently ruffled some feathers among Taliban officials, who repeatedly denied all allegations.
“The Biden administration is pursuing a policy of engagement at all costs and has failed to hold the Taliban to account for their crimes,” McFaul said in opening remarks at the hearing on November 15.
McFaul also said the Taliban “are terrorists” who impose theocratic edicts to oppress the Afghan people, abuse women, steal aid, and partner with outfits like al-Qaeda and TTP. Despite all this, the Republican claimed the Biden administration “frequently” meets with the Taliban and praises them “often,” (although he did not provide examples of said praise or frequent meetings).
The lawmaker warned that through these policies the Biden administration has all but recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. And yet, McFaul added, the Taliban has only become worse.
McFaul said his heart is with the people of Afghanistan and believes it is America’s moral imperative to help them.
“However, we must be clear-eyed about our priorities, and we must develop policies that will ensure the U.S. is supporting innocent Afghans, not the Taliban,” McFaul concluded.