Former Afghan VP Amrullah Saleh Reveals US Cash Payments to Taliban

Amrullah Saleh, the former Vice President of Afghanistan, has disclosed that the United States paid $45 million in cash to the Taliban administration on January 12, 2024. He stated that this payment was made despite the previous aid package not being fully utilized.

According to Saleh, American officials have also promised to deliver an additional $90 million to the Taliban this month. These statements have heightened concerns regarding the transparency and consequences of such financial support.

In a message posted on the social media platform X, Saleh highlighted Washington’s simultaneous policies, noting that while the Trump administration imposes tariffs on Canada, it generously provides financial aid to the Taliban.

Critically, he implicitly described the Taliban as a US proxy in Afghanistan and questioned whether there is an ongoing plan that assigns the Taliban a specific mission on behalf of the US. This stance has once again brought attention to questions about the Taliban administration’s role, record, and the effects of foreign backing of the group.