RASC News Agency: Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has declared that the Biden administration must prevent American taxpayer money from falling into the hands of the Taliban. McCaul made these remarks on Tuesday night, May 21, following a recent report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which revealed that nearly $11 million in taxes has been paid to the Taliban by U.S.-affiliated aid organizations.
In a statement, McCaul asserted that since the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan, the United States has provided over $2.8 billion in aid to address the humanitarian crisis created by the group. The Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee added, “Last year, I requested SIGAR to report on the financial benefits the Taliban derive from American taxpayer dollars. It is no surprise that SIGAR has found at least $10.9 million has been given to the Taliban.”
McCaul emphasized that U.S. aid to the Taliban is unacceptable and urged the Biden administration to take immediate measures to prevent American taxpayer dollars from reaching the group. In its latest report released on Monday, May 20, SIGAR disclosed that U.S.-affiliated organizations have paid $10.9 million to the Taliban for water, electricity, and customs taxes.
Meanwhile, Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, recently stated that Washington continues its efforts to ensure the Taliban do not indirectly benefit from humanitarian aid. Additionally, SIGAR reported last November that the Taliban have diverted a significant portion of humanitarian aid intended for the Afghanistani people to serve their own interests.
