{"id":2087002,"date":"2023-11-01T15:52:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T19:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-controlled-afghanistan-gets-80-million-cash-infusion-every-two-weeks-watchdog-says\/"},"modified":"2023-11-01T15:56:46","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T19:56:46","slug":"taliban-controlled-afghanistan-gets-80-million-cash-infusion-every-two-weeks-watchdog-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-controlled-afghanistan-gets-80-million-cash-infusion-every-two-weeks-watchdog-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Watchdog reveals Taliban-controlled Afghanistan receives $80M cash every fortnight."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftaliban-controlled-afghanistan-gets-80-million-cash-infusion-every-two-weeks-watchdog-says%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2087002&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Mounting evidence Taliban benefits from aid dollars<\/h2>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>The United States and other\u2062 international donors pump around $80 million\u2062 in aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan\u200b every two weeks, in the face of mounting evidence that the terror group steals this cash through fraudulent nonprofits and other means, according to a government watchdog.<\/p>\n<p>The United Nations sends &#8220;cash shipments&#8221; to Afghanistan every 10 to 14 days, money that is supposed to be shielded from \u2062the Taliban, according\u200c to the latest\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/EMBARGOED-SIGAR-October-2023-QR.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction \u2062(SIGAR). The Biden administration has allocated more than $2.5 billion for humanitarian projects in\u2063 Afghanistan since its 2020 evacuation\u2064 from the country, and international donors provided billions more for the country.<\/p>\n<p>While the State Department has provided assurances this aid is not enriching the Taliban, SIGAR \u200creports that the terror group&#8217;s &#8220;interference into UN \u200band NGO activities\u2064 has continued to rise throughout 2023.&#8221; This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-controlled-afghanistan-gets-80-million-cash-infusion-every-two-weeks-watchdog-says\/\" title=\"Watchdog reveals Taliban-controlled Afghanistan receives M cash every fortnight.\">interference includes arresting aid workers<\/a> and demanding \u2062that &#8220;sensitive data&#8221; about various\u200c projects be turned over to Taliban officials. The terror group also &#8220;indirectly benefit[s] from U.S. education funding through the establishment\u2062 of fraudulent NGOs to receive donor \u2062assistance, and by infiltrating and \u2063extorting existing Afghan NGOs delivering educational assistance,&#8221; according to \u200cSIGAR&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sigar.mil\/pdf\/evaluations\/SIGAR-24-01-IP.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">summary<\/a> of its report.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. \u200bAgency \u200cfor International Development (USAID), which remains active in the war-torn country, also said that &#8220;agency-funded projects were affected by Taliban interference&#8221; in recent months, according to \u2064the SIGAR report. But\u200c the Taliban&#8217;s meddling\u200d in international \u200daid projects has not stopped the United States and other Western nations from pumping money into Afghanistan, generating concerns the terror group is enriching itself while\u200c the nation starves.<\/p>\n<p>USAID reported that &#8220;some of their partner staff members had been detained this quarter by local Taliban authorities because of the staff members&#8217; efforts to prevent \u200bthe diversion of aid to \u2064non-eligible individuals,&#8221; according to SIGAR.<\/p>\n<p>Programs also have\u200c been \u200dhindered by the Taliban&#8217;s insistence that women not be placed in a supervisory role, or any other prominent position. International charities <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/goatsandsoda\/2023\/06\/23\/1180464339\/charities-say-taliban-intimidation-diverts-aid-to-taliban-members-and-causes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> throughout the year on Taliban efforts to siphon\u200c aid, bolstering SIGAR&#8217;s most recent \u2063findings and posing \u200ca challenge for American aid efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Amid\u2064 these\u2064 concerns, a U.N.-shipment \u2063of \u200dcash arrives in the country every couple of weeks and &#8220;is placed in designated UN accounts in a private bank&#8221; that the U.N. agency claims cannot be touched by the Taliban. From December\u2062 2021 to July 2023, the United Nations transferred $2.9 \u200cbillion for &#8220;humanitarian operations.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In the two years since the Biden administration pulled U.S. forces from the country, \u200b&#8221;the\u200c Taliban \u2063have \u200cshaped governing institutions to serve their aims \u2062and\u200b cement power,&#8221; according to SIGAR. The terror group remains &#8220;firmly in control of\u200c the country,&#8221; according to a\u200d U.N. assessment, &#8220;and continued to implement\u2063 what \u200dthey consider their &#8216;Islamic system.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Biden \u2064administration\u2063 maintains talks with the terror group that could\u200c result\u200b in U.S. recognition of the government. These talks continued in \u2064July of this year, when senior U.S. officials traveled to Qatar &#8220;to engage with the \u2063Taliban on \u200bissues of mutual interest,&#8221; SIGAR reported.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. \u200cmilitary\u2063 also coordinates \u2064anti-terrorism\u200d operations with the Taliban, mainly those \u200btargeting ISIS.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A U.S. intelligence official reportedly \u2064said the United States is sharing counterterrorism information with the Taliban, but not &#8216;actionable intelligence,&#8217; or targeting data,&#8221; according to SIGAR.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What actions\u200c should the international community, particularly the United\u2063 States, take to address the issue of aid funds being redirected to the Taliban\u200c in Afghanistan<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Thorities, while others had been forced to\u200d sign agreements\u2063 that \u200ballowed the Taliban to benefit \u200bfrom the\u2062 projects.&#8221; This demonstrates the extent of the Taliban&#8217;s influence and control over \u2064aid funds and projects in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>The Taliban&#8217;s ability to divert aid funds for their own benefit raises serious questions about the effectiveness \u2064of the international \u2063community&#8217;s efforts to stabilize and rebuild\u2064 Afghanistan. Despite billions of dollars in aid, the country continues to face severe economic hardships, with millions of individuals struggling to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-war-us-officials-negotiate-temporary-escape-plan-for-americans-fleeing-gaza\/\" title=\"US officials arrange temporary escape plan for Americans fleeing Gaza amid Israel war.\">access basic necessities<\/a> such \u2064as\u200c food, water, and healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the diversion of aid funds to the Taliban\u200c undermines the\u2064 credibility and legitimacy of the Afghan \u2063government. It erodes public \u200dtrust \u2062and reinforces the perception that the government\u2062 is corrupt and incapable of effectively managing international assistance. This, in turn, undermines the prospects for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nascar-teams-call-revenue-model-broken\/\" title=\"NASCAR Teams Call Revenue Model \"Broken\"\">long-term stability<\/a> and peace in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The international community, particularly\u200c the United States, must take immediate \u2064action to \u2064address this issue. It is imperative to enhance oversight\u200c and accountability measures \u200cto ensure\u2062 that\u200b aid funds reach their intended recipients and are not siphoned \u2062off by the Taliban \u2064or other \u2063corrupt\u200b actors.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the United States and its allies should strengthen their support for Afghan civil\u200d society organizations and independent media outlets. These institutions play \u2063a crucial role in holding the government and\u2063 aid \u2062agencies accountable, \u200das well as providing essential services\u200b to vulnerable \u2062populations.<\/p>\n<p>It is also necessary to explore alternative methods of delivering aid\u2062 to Afghanistan. Relying solely on cash shipments and direct\u2064 funding to the Afghan \u200cgovernment leaves \u2063ample room for diversion and misappropriation of funds. Exploring innovative\u2062 approaches such as direct funding \u2063to local NGOs and implementing\u200c conditionalities can\u2063 help mitigate the risks of aid mismanagement.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, addressing the \u200bunderlying issues that contribute to the Taliban&#8217;s ability to benefit from aid funds is crucial.\u2063 This\u2062 includes\u2062 tackling corruption, strengthening governance structures, and promoting transparency and accountability\u200d in\u2062 the country. \u2062Without addressing \u2062these systemic challenges, the risk of aid diversion and \u2063the perpetuation of \u200dthe Taliban&#8217;s \u200binfluence will persist.<\/p>\n<p>Mounting evidence of the Taliban&#8217;s benefit\u2062 from aid dollars in \u200cAfghanistan underscores the \u2063urgent need for action. The international\u200c community, particularly the United States, must reassess and modify its approach to ensure\u2064 that aid serves its intended purpose of improving the lives of Afghan citizens and fostering long-term stability in the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mounting evidence reveals that the Taliban benefits from aid dollars. Every two weeks, the United States and other international donors provide approximately $80 million in aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. However, a government watchdog has found that the terror group steals this money through fraudulent nonprofits and other methods. The United Nations also sends &#8220;cash.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117,"featured_media":2087003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2087002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2087002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2087003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2087002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2087002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2087002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}