US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has slammed the Biden administration for its lack of transparency regarding funding to Afghanistan and accused President Joe Biden of being partly to blame for the humanitarian crisis in the country.
Responding to a Special Inspector General for Afghanistan (SIGAR) report that found the Taliban is accessing both US and UN aid meant to go directly to the people of Afghanistan, McCaul said “it is despicable that US taxpayer money is lining the pockets of a terrorist group like the Taliban.”
The assessment delivered by SIGAR was carried out by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) but funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – which McCaul said has failed to answer his questions.
“McCaul sent a letter to USAID in May of this year calling for greater oversight and requesting information on US assistance to Afghanistan. USAID has yet to provide an answer,” a statement issued Wednesday read.
McCaul also stated that “the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan was significantly worsened by President Biden’s chaotic and deadly withdrawal” of troops two years ago.
He went on to say “it is despicable that U.S. taxpayer money is lining the pockets of a terrorist group like the Taliban, which persecutes Afghan women and girls, funds al-Qaeda and other terrorists, perpetrates atrocities against religious minorities, and commits numerous other human rights abuses daily.”
He said he has for months asked the Biden administration to explain how they will help the people of Afghanistan while keeping US money out of Taliban hands, without a response. “This latest report underscores the urgent need for transparency from the Biden administration on funding to Afghanistan,” he said.
