The Taliban’s utilization of humanitarian aid presents one of the challenging issues for countries assisting Afghanistan under the rule of this group. Citizens of these countries urge their governments not to allow their taxes to fall into the hands of the Taliban and other terrorist groups. Some countries providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan have expressed concerns about the Taliban’s access to this aid. Among them, the United States has consistently stated that its aid is distributed in Afghanistan without the Taliban’s involvement, but SIGAR has reported in multiple instances that the Taliban benefit from US aid. According to its recent report, SIGAR stated that American cooperating organizations have provided more than $10 million directly to the Taliban, benefiting the group.
The United States Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) recently reported that since August 2021, US implementing partners in Afghanistan have paid at least $10.9 million to the Taliban regime as taxes and utility expenses for water and electricity, directly benefiting the Taliban from US aid in Afghanistan.
SIGAR mentioned in this report that out of $10.4 million of this amount, $346,839 was for water and electricity expenses, $176,596 for other expenses, and $9,215 for customs taxes paid to the Taliban regime.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the United States has provided over $2.8 billion in humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The US stated that these aids have been utilized by non-governmental and international organizations, including the United Nations, in Afghanistan.
Previously, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives had asked SIGAR to investigate the extent of US aid funds benefiting the Taliban. SIGAR stated that out of 144 organizations providing US aid to Afghanistan, only 65 responded to its inquiries.
The latest report from SIGAR reveals that $10.9 million has been paid to the Taliban by 38 partners of the US State Department, dedicated to international development and global media management. It’s suggested that this sum constitutes a small portion of the US aid that has reached the Taliban. According to SIGAR, the United Nations agencies, major recipients of US aid, have not provided their data.
The report highlights that from October 2021 to September 2023, the United Nations received $1.6 billion of American aid, representing 63% of the total US financial aid to Afghanistan during that period.
SIGAR warns of serious consequences if implementing partners fail or neglect to pay taxes, expenses, and utility bills, facing potential retaliation from the Taliban. It also notes the Taliban’s various methods, including attempts to divert aid or infiltrate non-governmental organizations, interfering with their operations. The report indicates that 26% of organizations claim direct pressure from the Taliban.
Additionally, SIGAR states that the Taliban extensively interferes with the operations of NGOs, manipulating beneficiary lists, employment, and operating permits, even threatening staff to carry out activities directly or indirectly benefiting the group.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan announced in December 2022 that if non-governmental organizations fail to pay taxes and other expenses, they may face consequences including bank account closures, office shutdowns, and removal from the list of organizations permitted to operate in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, sources within aid organizations speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily have also confirmed that the Taliban extensively interfere in beneficiary selection processes, employment, and grant permission for operations. In some cases, they even threaten organization staff to carry out activities directly or indirectly benefiting the group.
A source within an organization confirmed the Taliban’s direct involvement in staffing, stating, “The Taliban interfere in every aspect. They compile lists, hire personnel, and intervene in project timelines and locations. They’ve set conditions that if not met, the organization has no right to operate. They extort money from aid organizations. In provinces, they control economic departments and sectoral leadership, each exerting their influence. Even in the capital, aid organizations face pressure from the Ministry of Economy.”
The source further adds that in many cases, the Taliban directly criticize the staff composition of an organization, insisting their considerations be accounted for. They clarify, “Some organizations have hired Taliban-affiliated staff. Whether it’s a Taliban member’s nephew or someone closely linked to them, they are employed in the organization, sharing Taliban’s ideology.”
An employee of an organization in Ghor province reveals that humanitarian aid for flood victims has also been distributed in some areas of the province according to the Taliban’s directives. They add, “Local Taliban officials have explicitly instructed the organization to aid certain people, threatening consequences otherwise.”
This report emerges amidst prior criticism from SIGAR regarding the Taliban’s exploitation of the financial aid transfer system to UN agencies in Afghanistan. The agency previously labeled the Taliban as “a bunch of terrorists.”
John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, stated in an interview with ProPublica, “Most cash assistance to the United Nations comes from American taxpayers. This aid reaches a terrorist group in Afghanistan.” He mentioned that the flow of money through the Da Afghanistan Bank (Central Bank of Afghanistan ) is how the Taliban benefits from US aid dollars.
Following the release of this report, Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement condemning the diversion of American taxpayers’ funds to a “terrorist” group.
Last year, SIGAR also reported that the Taliban indirectly accesses US educational assistance, generating tax revenues for the group. According to SIGAR, the imposition of income taxes on staff of US-funded educational programs and the taxation of purchases and sales of American aid commodities by the Taliban are among the ways this group accesses US financial aid.
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
