RASC News Agency: A U.S. Congressman has claimed that, since the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration has been sending weekly cash payments directly to the Taliban. Tim Burchett stated that these funds are being converted into local currency by terrorists and subsequently distributed, with portions of the money flowing to the Haqqani Network and other terrorist organizations. According to Burchett, the United Nations facilitates the transfer of funds from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to the Taliban-controlled Central Bank of Afghanistan. He claims that these funds ultimately reach individuals tied to al-Qaeda. In an article published in “The Daily Caller”, Burchett outlined that after the funds are deposited in the Central Bank of Afghanistan, now under Taliban control, an auction is held to exchange the dollars for local currency.
Burchett asserted that every week, a person affiliated with the Haqqani Network, a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda, wins the auction. He explained: “The terrorists convert the dollars into Afghanistan’s local currency, which is then distributed. Part of the money stays with the Haqqani Network, another portion goes to the terrorists managing the bank, and the remainder is allocated to NGOs or local governmental bodies.” His claims are reportedly based on intelligence provided by a former Afghanistan-American officer, who traveled to Kabul during the U.S. withdrawal to assist in evacuating those left behind. Burchett’s source, referred to as “Legend,” highlighted that if the U.S. were to cease its weekly payments to the Taliban, signs of the group’s collapse, along with other terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, would likely emerge within a year.
The congressman mocked previous statements made by the Biden administration, which had assured that no harm would befall anyone following the Taliban’s return to power, describing such remarks as “absurd.” He further argued that the U.S. government is fully aware of who it is dealing with. Burchett also pointed to the dire situation faced by Afghanistani women under Taliban rule, emphasizing the draconian restrictions imposed on them. He wrote: “It is a national disgrace that even a single penny of U.S. taxpayers’ money has ended up in the hands of terrorists. I have introduced legislation aimed at halting these payments through three critical measures.”
His proposal underscores a rejection of U.S. policy that appears to support the Taliban and calls for detailed reports on all cash assistance programs to Afghanistan, guarantees to prevent the Taliban from accessing funds, and accountability reports from Afghanistan’s Central Bank to avoid the misuse of these funds. Burchett revealed that his proposal was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year, but the Senate has so far refrained from holding a vote on the matter.
