Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson for the Taliban, stated on Wednesday, January 8, via his X account, that allegations regarding billions of dollars in US aid to the Taliban are entirely false and have been rejected. He emphasized that the United States has not provided any assistance but has instead frozen billions of dollars in Afghan assets.
Fitrat clarified that the funds referenced by the US were primarily spent on the withdrawal of US forces and the resettlement of Afghans who left the country with them. He added that part of these funds may have been used by international organizations for humanitarian assistance.
This comes after Donald Trump, the newly elected President of the United States, declared in a press conference on Tuesday, January 7, that sending billions of dollars to the Taliban is “unacceptable” and should not happen. He criticized US aid to Afghanistan over the past three years, calling it a point of contention among Republican Party members.
Tim Burchett, a Republican congressman and supporter of the National Resistance Front, issued an open letter to Trump on Monday, urging an immediate halt to cash assistance to the Taliban. He stated that the United States should not fund its adversaries abroad and called for the practice to stop.
Trump responded to Republican criticism by saying: “We are sending not millions but billions of dollars to Afghanistan and essentially to the Taliban. This is unbelievable and must stop.” He expressed concern over the issue and stressed the need to reassess US aid policies for Afghanistan.
In response to Trump’s remarks, the Taliban Deputy Spokesperson called for an end to US aid to Afghanistan.
Over the past three years, the US has provided approximately $2 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan through relief organizations.
Reporter: Maryam Mohammadi