Former Afghan Vice President Welcomes US Senate Committee Approval to Halt Aid to Taliban
Amrullah Saleh, the former first vice president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, welcomed the approval of a bill by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee aimed at stopping financial aid to Afghanistan under Taliban control. He accused the Taliban of widespread misuse of financial resources.
Saleh stated that the Taliban conceal their crimes and actions behind beards, traditional clothing, and hypocritical religious slogans. He expressed gratitude to Congressman Tom Rice and his colleagues, describing their action as a decision made by “people with a clear conscience.”
The former vice president expressed hope that during the bill’s progress, lobbyists from non-governmental organizations and corrupt circles will not be able to exploit legal loopholes, and under no circumstances should financial resources be given to the Taliban administration.
According to Saleh, the Taliban currently hold around $110 million from the latest US aid package in their reserves, highlighting renewed concerns over transparency and the fate of foreign assistance to Afghanistan.
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved this bill a few days ago; if it becomes law, at least $631 million allocated for Afghanistan’s reconstruction will be returned to the US Treasury.
Although the mission of the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has ended, the agency previously reported that more than $3 billion in US aid was sent to Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power.
The Taliban administration has not yet issued a specific response to the bill’s approval in the US Congress, although it has consistently claimed that these funds are delivered directly to foreign entities and are not controlled by them.
