The Taliban-run Ministry of Economy on Saturday called for the release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets following a recent report from a U.S. watchdog.
In a statement, the ministry claimed that of the $3.71 billion spent in Afghanistan over the past three years, a significant portion was allocated to international organizations, with much of it used for operational expenses rather than direct humanitarian aid.
The Taliban maintain that the continued freezing of more than $9 billion in Afghanistan’s foreign reserves—funds they describe as belonging to the “Afghan nation”—has negatively impacted the country’s economy. They also rejected any U.S. decision regarding the allocation, transfer, or use of these assets, calling such actions “unacceptable.”
The Taliban-controlled Ministry of Economy has urged the international community to transfer these financial resources directly to Afghanistan’s central bank under their control.
Breakdown of U.S. Assistance to Afghanistan Since 2021
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the United States has provided more than $3.7 billion in assistance to Afghanistan, with nearly 65 percent of the funds channeled through the United Nations and the World Bank.
• Humanitarian aid: $2.6 billion
• Development assistance: $557 million
• Operational support for organizations: $342 million
• Security-related assistance: $100 million
The United Nations has warned that cutting aid could further deteriorate Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation.
However, SIGAR’s report noted that despite the billions of dollars in humanitarian and development assistance provided since 2021, the funding has neither prevented violations of women’s and girls’ rights nor stopped Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups.
