Washington — The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a proposal aimed at preventing American financial assistance from reaching the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, citing moral, security, and accountability concerns.
Committee Chairman Senator Jim Risch said that more than 2,000 Americans were killed and over 20,000 wounded during the war in Afghanistan, stressing that the transfer of US taxpayers’ money to the Taliban is deeply offensive to the victims of the conflict and their families.
“Sending American taxpayers’ money to the Taliban is an insult to those who paid the highest price during the war,” Risch stated, emphasizing that US funds should not benefit a group still facing international scrutiny over human rights abuses and governance failures.
The move comes amid ongoing debate in Washington over humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. While US officials maintain that aid is intended to support vulnerable Afghan civilians, critics argue that weak oversight risks indirect benefit to the Taliban authorities.
In response, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, rejected claims that the US is directly funding the Taliban. He said that American money has not been transferred to the Emirate, asserting instead that the funds are delivered to international humanitarian organizations for relief efforts.
Despite these assurances, lawmakers and analysts continue to question whether sufficient safeguards exist to ensure that aid reaches ordinary Afghans without empowering Taliban institutions. The Senate committee’s decision reflects growing pressure within the US political system to reassess Afghanistan-related aid policies and enforce stricter controls.
Read more :Serious Questions Raised Over Continued US Financial Support to the Taliban
