RASC News Agency: Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, reiterated that the Taliban is classified as a “terrorist” organization. During a press briefing on Monday night July 29, in Washington, Patel responded to a question by stating, “I am fairly certain that the Taliban is designated as a terrorist organization.”
He emphasized that it is evident the Taliban is a terrorist group. This statement comes amid growing criticism from Afghanistani citizens both within the country and abroad regarding the U.S.’s weekly $40 million aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Critics argue that these funds are falling into the hands of “terrorist” groups. Afghanistanis and various protest and resistance movements have consistently expressed concern that aid from both humanitarian and non-humanitarian organizations is being appropriated by the Taliban for their own use.
Although the United States has not formally recognized the Taliban, American officials have continually advocated for engagement with the group. Meanwhile, some U.S. officials have persistently labeled the Taliban as terrorists and a regional threat. Previously, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller denied direct financial aid from the U.S. to the Taliban. However, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), in a recent report, indicated that the State Department has not yet reviewed the aid agencies operating in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in accordance with U.S. policy.
The Special Inspector General also noted the potential for extremist groups in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to access U.S. aid. The Taliban is a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of thousands.
