Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
October 23, 2023
A recently published report by a U.S. government watchdog for assistance to Afghanistan says the unrecognized Taliban regime is reaping economic benefits through poorly monitored international aid, which it views as a “revenue stream.”
The latest quarterly report by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), covering the period ending July 30, says the Taliban takes credit for and exercises control over most international assistance, “particularly aid from the UN.” It adds that “the UN’s continuing deference to the Taliban…has made the UN vulnerable to Taliban influence.”
The de facto Taliban government seized control of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the U.S.-led international coalition in August 2021. It remains largely unrecognized by the international community and has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, particularly against women and girls. It has barred women from working for assistance organizations and has restricted the ability of such organizations to work in the education sector.
According to the SIGAR report, the United States “remains the largest donor to the Afghan people, having appropriated more than $2.35 billion since the Taliban takeover.”
Citing a report written by the United States Institute for Peace at the request of USAID, the SIGAR report says the Taliban government has replaced civil servants in many key ministries with “Taliban loyalists” and has overseen “a wave of increasing encroachment” on the activity of NGOs.
The USIP wrote that “the Taliban appear to view the UN system as yet another revenue stream” and seek “means of profiting from engagement with the UN.”
“According to multiple UN officials across different agencies,” the SIGAR report states, “the Taliban have effectively infiltrated and influenced most UN-managed assistance programming.”
The deputy spokesman for the Taliban, Bilal Karimi, denied the allegations in comments quoted by Afghanistan’s Tolo news agency on October 21, saying they “are far from the truth.”
“The Islamic emirate regulates all issues and affairs and everything that is going on in Afghanistan according to the principles and interests of its country,” Karimi said.
Inspector General John Sopko told Congress in April that “SIGAR could not guarantee that U.S. funding intended for impoverished Afghans was not falling into the hands of the Taliban.”
8am: The Afghanistan Freedom Front has announced that it successfully killed four Taliban fighters and injured two others during an attack on a Taliban base in Kapisa province. According to an official press release from the Afghanistan Freedom Front, the assault occurred on Sunday night, October 22nd, in the “Rig-Rawan” area in central Kapisa. It is important to note that the Afghanistan Freedom Front had previously launched five rockets over the Hese Awal-e Kohistan district building in Kapisa province around midnight on Friday, October 20th. 
Ariana: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that 7,500 pregnant women were affected by the recent string of earthquakes in Herat province. The UNFPA wrote on X, that the loss of loved ones has a very bad effect on pregnant women. This United Nations agency said that it has sent psychotherapeutic counselors to the region to give advice in order to help them spiritually in reducing the grief caused by the death of their loved ones. On the other hand, the earthquake has severely damaged health centers and facilities. According to reports, at least 40 health centers or clinics have been destroyed or damaged as a result of these earthquakes. 
Khaama: Pakistani media outlets have reported that Pakistan’s Interior Minister emphasized during a meeting with Western diplomats that Pakistan is committed to addressing concerns regarding the deportation of migrants from the country. This development comes as Pakistani media outlets have disclosed that approximately 60,000 Afghan migrants have been expelled from various cities and regions of Pakistan in less than a month. 
8am: Kunduz is one of the fertile provinces in northeastern Afghanistan. Farmers in this province have consistently complained about the neglect of mechanized agriculture and the prevention of plant diseases. They have called for cooperation from government authorities and UN agencies. Recently, some farmers in this province have reported a decrease in cotton yields. However, the Taliban claim that cotton production has increased by 10% this year. According to the Taliban officials, last year, 10,033 metric tons of cotton were harvested in Kunduz province. Some residents of Kunduz accuse the Taliban of providing “false” statistics. They claim that farmers collect the produce, but the Taliban report the figures. 
Khaama: Before the Taliban administration took control, this institution taught the girls modern science and school curriculum subjects. Remedial courses were offered, and the girls were prepared for the university entrance exam, Kankor. However, recent developments have disrupted even the programs of this centre. 