Amid widespread criticism of continued U.S. cash aid to the Taliban, a U.S. Congress representative has called for an end to such aid and urged President-elect Donald Trump to halt the country’s financial assistance to the Taliban.

Tim Burchett, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, has urged President-elect Donald Trump to immediately halt cash aid sent to Afghanistan, stating that the United States should not fund its enemies abroad.

In a letter on Monday, Burchett asked Trump to take decisive action to end “wasteful foreign aid spending” and support Congress’s efforts to prioritize the interests of the American people.

Burchett emphasized that providing “$40 million a week to our enemies is an insult to those who have served in the military,” referencing the sacrifices of U.S. armed forces.

Over the past three years, the U.S. has provided more than $2 billion in aid to relief organizations operating in Afghanistan. The U.S. State Department maintains that this funding is strictly for humanitarian programs addressing famine, hunger, and food shortages affecting ordinary Afghans.

Critics, however, argue that such aid indirectly supports the Taliban by sustaining their operations through taxation of aid organizations and the establishment of sham relief entities. These critics advocate for an immediate cessation of financial assistance.

International organizations, including the United Nations, warn that halting aid to Afghanistan could result in catastrophic humanitarian consequences. They have called for increased funding from donor countries to prevent widespread suffering.

Trump has appointed national security officials with experience fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. Analysts believe these appointments may signal a tougher U.S. policy toward the Taliban, potentially increasing pressure on the group.

Recent conciliatory remarks by Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, suggest the group is concerned about the incoming administration. Stanikzai praised Trump’s decisiveness and expressed readiness to collaborate with the new U.S. government.

The debate over aid to Afghanistan underscores the complexities of balancing humanitarian needs with counter-terrorism goals. While halting aid could weaken the Taliban, it also risks exacerbating the suffering of ordinary Afghans.

International efforts must focus on ensuring that aid reaches those in need without empowering terrorist groups. This requires stringent oversight, transparency, and collaboration with credible organizations on the ground.

The World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan has expressed deep concern over the country’s worsening economic crisis as temperatures drop, highlighting that millions are in urgent need of aid.

In a statement posted on its X page on Tuesday, January 7, WFP stated that Afghan families are forced to choose between feeding their children and keeping them warm during the harsh winter.

The organization emphasized the need for immediate humanitarian assistance as the cold season sets in, exacerbating the challenges faced by vulnerable populations.

This comes as several international aid organizations have issued warnings about rising poverty and the growing need for humanitarian support in Afghanistan during the winter months.

Earlier, WFP reported that due to a funding shortfall, it cannot provide food assistance to millions of people in Afghanistan during the winter.

According to WFP, it can only support six million people this winter, while an estimated 15 million Afghans will require humanitarian aid to survive.

Simultaneously, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that in 2025, approximately 22.9 million Afghans — nearly half the country’s population — will require life-saving humanitarian assistance.

As Afghanistan faces an escalating humanitarian crisis, the international community must act swiftly to address the funding gap. Increased collaboration among donor nations, aid agencies, and humanitarian groups is essential to save lives.

Efforts to provide immediate aid must be coupled with long-term strategies to address Afghanistan’s systemic issues. Sustainable solutions, such as improving food security and infrastructure, will be crucial to preventing similar crises in the future.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, stated that Tehran will use all available tools to secure its water rights from shared and border rivers with Afghanistan. He emphasized that the issue has been a priority for the Islamic Republic since Afghanistan began constructing dams.

According to IRNA news agency, Baghaei responded to questions about Afghanistan’s dam projects, saying, “The Foreign Ministry, as the authority on national diplomacy, has consistently pursued Iran’s water rights from shared and border rivers as a fixed agenda.”

Baghaei added that Iran’s efforts to secure its water rights from the Harirud border river date back to the early 2010s.

During a press conference, he noted, “From the time Afghanistan started planning several dams, the issue became a focus for the Islamic Republic, and our protests have been officially recorded.”

The spokesperson highlighted that the water flowing from Afghanistan to Iran for thousands or even millions of years has established rights for all stakeholders on both sides of the border.

Baghaei also mentioned that Iran possesses specific agreements and documents regarding its water rights. He emphasized that Iran expects the Taliban to address this issue seriously, based on customary international law, environmental considerations, and the principle of good neighborliness.

Baghaei stated that Alireza Bigdeli, Iran’s ambassador in Kabul, is actively pursuing the matter, while officials in Tehran continue to use all available means to address the issue.

Iran’s water rights, particularly from the Helmand River, have become a contentious issue in recent years, especially as dam construction projects in Afghanistan, such as Salma, Pashdan, and Bakhshabad, have intensified.

Iranian officials view these dams as a significant threat to downstream regions, including Khorasan Razavi and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces. The Helmand River is a crucial water source for eastern Iran, particularly for Sistan and Baluchestan.

According to the 1973 treaty, Afghanistan is obligated to provide Iran with its rightful share of water from the Helmand River.

Iran expects Afghanistan, particularly the Taliban government, to honor existing agreements and ensure a fair distribution of water resources. Diplomatic engagement and adherence to international norms are essential to avoid further escalation.

Given the critical role of water in regional stability and development, both nations must collaborate to find sustainable solutions. Addressing the concerns of both upstream and downstream regions can pave the way for improved relations and long-term water security.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that more than 500 Afghan children were killed or injured in 2024 due to explosions from unexploded ordnance and remnants of war. UNICEF stated that last year, it trained 3 million children and their guardians on how to identify and avoid the dangers of explosives.

On Sunday, January 5, UNICEF shared a photo on its social media account depicting children undergoing training to recognize and avoid explosive remnants.

The HALO Trust, a demining organization, announced on November 12 that over 65 square kilometers of land in 26 Afghan provinces remain contaminated with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The organization identified Afghanistan as one of the four most heavily mine-contaminated countries globally. It stated that HALO operates with 2,235 demining personnel across the country.

During the previous government, the Taliban planted landmines on roads and farmland without any systematic mapping, targeting former government and foreign forces’ security lines.

The continued contamination of Afghan land poses a severe risk to communities, particularly children. Enhanced demining operations and educational campaigns are essential to mitigate these risks and prevent further casualties.

The international community must increase its support for demining efforts in Afghanistan and provide resources to organizations like UNICEF and HALO Trust. Strengthening these initiatives can help safeguard lives and rebuild affected communities for a safer future.