RASC News Agency: Senator Marco Rubio of the United States has recently proposed the cessation of financial aid from Washington to Afghanistan through the United Nations under Taliban control. Rubio unveiled this proposal on Wednesday night, Mar 13, during an interview with Fox News, spurred by concerns from certain American officials and representatives regarding the Taliban’s exploitation of global aid.
Rubio asserted that until assurance can be provided that humanitarian assistance is not being diverted to strengthen “terrorist groups,” the United Nations should halt its aid to Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The American senator emphasized, “Until such assurance is obtained, assistance to the United Nations should be withheld,” stressing that Washington’s funds must not be utilized to fortify the Taliban regime.
It is noteworthy that American officials and members of Congress have previously regarded the Taliban’s misuse of humanitarian aid from the international community, particularly the United States, as alarming. John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), also reported in October of this year that a substantial portion of the country’s aid is being appropriated by the Taliban for their own interests.
In his report, Sopko indicated that aid agencies are coerced by the Taliban to employ their members, with the group even intervening in the selection of project implementation areas. SIGAR’s latest report revealed that over the past two years, the United States has provided Afghanistan under Taliban control with more than $11 billion.
