Afghanistan has received $7bn in aid from the international community over the past three years, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). Of this, $2.9bn was contributed by the United States, encompassing both humanitarian and developmental assistance.
Despite the aid, Afghanistan continues to grapple with an economic crisis. The United Nations has requested over $3bn to support humanitarian activities in 2024, but as of July 12, only 23% of this amount ($710mn) had been funded. The United States remains the largest donor, providing nearly $232mn this year.
Economic analyst Sayed Masoud emphasized the role of international aid in stabilizing the Afghan currency, noting that the $2.9bn from the US and other funds have been instrumental in preventing devaluation.
Afghanistan's assets in the Swiss-based Fund for the Afghan People have reached $3.8bn as of June this year. The Ministry of Economy underscored the importance of continued aid and advocated for the release of Afghanistan's assets for public use.
The SIGAR report highlighted a significant reduction in opium poppy cultivation, which decreased by over 85% in 2023. Farmer Nematullah urged the Islamic Emirate to provide alternative seeds to replace opium, emphasizing the need for sustainable agriculture.
Earlier, Daryo reported that the US State Department has reiterated that it does not provide direct financial support to the Taliban. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the department, firmly denied any claims of such funding. "We do not provide financial aid to the Taliban," Miller stated, emphasizing, "When it comes to US funding of the Taliban, no, we flatly do not fund the Taliban. Made that clear on several occasions."
Contrasting with these statements, a report from SIGAR revealed that U.S. government implementing partners have paid at least $10.9 mn to the Taliban-controlled government. These payments were made through taxes, fees, import duties, or for obtaining permits, licenses, and public utility services.
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