WASHINGTON — In a rare exchange highlighting rising concerns over U.S. aid flows to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Washington State Senator Drew MacEwen warned that any financial support to the Taliban would be “a disaster for the people of Afghanistan and for global peace,” calling for an outright ban on such funding in a letter addressed to Amrullah Saleh, the former vice president of Afghanistan.
The letter, dated May 7 and shared publicly by Mr. Saleh, expresses solidarity with the Afghan people and urges swift legislative action. “To fund the rearming of the Taliban is and will continue to be a disaster for the people of Afghanistan, and for global peace,” wrote Mr. MacEwen, a Republican deputy leader in the Washington State Senate.
While acknowledging that he does not serve at the federal level, Mr. MacEwen said he is “strongly advocating that Congress pass and President Trump sign into law a ban on any funding to the Taliban and other terror groups,” whether from the U.S. government or through non-governmental organizations.
In response, Mr. Saleh posted a message thanking the senator for his support, writing: “The Taliban’s survival isn’t a myth. It largely depends on weekly cash shipments from Washington. Many billions of dollars have been quietly sent to the Taliban, helping them consolidate at the expense of the Afghan people, including eight million displaced individuals and refugees.”
“Financial assistance to the Taliban goes against every and any ethos and isn’t explainable in any language or culture. If there is any justification, it must be dirty and stinky,” Saleh added.
The exchange comes amid growing scrutiny in Washington over the flow of humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan under Taliban rule. While the U.S. has maintained that funding is channeled through independent partners, watchdog agencies including the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) have raised concerns about Taliban interference in aid delivery.
Mr. Saleh and other Afghan opposition figures have repeatedly warned that continued funding under the guise of humanitarian relief risks enabling the Taliban to strengthen their grip while millions of Afghans face poverty, hunger, and displacement.
Senator MacEwen concluded his letter with a message of personal support: “Know that I am praying for you, and that you can count me as one of the many friends you have that stand with you in your struggle.”
