Afghanistan Peace CampaignThe US Department of State confirmed yesterday that it has suspended its aid to the World Food Programme in Afghanistan and Yemen.
The Ministry of Economy said a new bill that passed a vote in the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and is heading to Congress, which concerns aid to Afghanistan is a tool of pressure on the Islamic Emirate.
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a bill titled “No Tax Dollars for Terrorist Act” and has forwarded it to the US Congress for further review.
Brian Mast, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, stated that the bill mandates the State Department to develop a strategy to prevent countries and NGOs from financially assisting the Islamic Emirate.
He said: “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.”
Tim Burchett, a US Congressman, said: “The State Department needs to ensure that any aid, whether financial or material, does not go to terrorists 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.”
The Ministry of Economy commented on the bill.
Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister of economy, said: “The recent bill … is aimed at pressuring the Islamic Emirate and has a political approach. The Islamic Emirate has not benefited from US aid and has no role in the aid process.”
In response to the US aid suspension, Mohammad Naeem, deputy minister of finance and administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also stated that conditioning humanitarian aid on political criteria is surprising.
“This move directly affects our people and government because these funds had a direct impact on our economy, trade, and current situation. This aid had helped our economy to some extent,” said Mohammad Nabi Afghan, an economic analyst.
The US Department of State confirmed yesterday that it has suspended its aid to the World Food Programme in Afghanistan and Yemen.
A spokesperson for the department said the reason for the suspension is concern that the aid might benefit the Islamic Emirate.