The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has voted in favor of a bill to prevent U.S. tax dollars from falling into the hands of the Taliban-led Afghan government.
This move follows concerns over millions of dollars reportedly sent to Afghanistan after the Biden administration’s withdrawal from the country.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tim Burchett, aims to ensure the State Department doesn’t provide financial or material aid to the Taliban.
“The United States has sent over $5 billion in cash to Kabul,” Rep. Burchett said. “This money has been taxed and stolen by the Taliban, yet we continue to send it oddly enough. That definitely needs to end. The State Department needs to ensure that that any aid, whether financial or material, does not go to Taliban in Afghanistan. We need to have a clear understanding of the influence the Taliban has on, not just international aid, but the Afghan banking system as well.”
“This bill requires the Department of State to develop and implement a strategy to discourage foreign countries and non-government organizations, NGOs, from providing financial and material support to the Taliban,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast said.
