Afghanistan Peace Campaign
John Sopko, the former Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), stated at the Herat Security Conference in Madrid on Tuesday that the United States has spent over $21 billion on Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power. He highlighted that, despite a reduction in foreign aid, the U.S. continues to send money to Afghanistan on a weekly basis.
Sopko, who previously headed SIGAR, mentioned that a significant portion of this funding had been directed towards humanitarian aid, refugee relocation, and the repayment of Afghanistan’s foreign assets. According to SIGAR’s report from August, 2021, Washington had provided around $21 billion in assistance with $3.7 billion allocated specifically for humanitarian purposes.
Despite the U.S. government’s stance on cutting aid, Sopko argued that if the Taliban does not change its policies on women’s rights, education, and human rights, the U.S. believes that these funds should be halted. He also proposed that $4 billion from Afghanistan’s Swiss escrow fund should be used as compensation for victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
He added, “The humanitarian aid provided to Afghanistan has had no real impact on the Taliban’s views on women, children, education, and human rights.”
SIGAR’s report further breaks down that from the $20.7 billion allocated between August 2021 and June 2024, $2.97 billion went towards humanitarian and development assistance. These funds were spent across various sectors, including humanitarian aid, development projects, organizational operations, and security.
Sopko also raised concerns that a significant portion of U.S. aid has reached the Taliban, as there was insufficient oversight regarding how the funds were used. He noted that previous U.S. military and diplomatic personnel often provided misleading reports to enhance their careers, leading to a lack of accountability. According to Sopko, much of the assistance was funneled through organizations like the UN and the World Food Program, but the monitoring process was not robust enough to ensure it was used effectively.
Sopko’s remarks reflect the ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, highlighting issues with U.S. financial aid and the lack of transparency in its use. His comments underscore a growing sense of frustration within the U.S. about its involvement in Afghanistan and the lack of tangible outcomes from its extensive investments. Moving forward, as U.S. priorities shift under a new administration, the future of American aid to Afghanistan remains uncertain.