KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has warned that billions of dollars in American aid to Afghanistan lack proper oversight, increasing the risk of misuse, including potential Taliban exploitation.
In its latest report, SIGAR highlighted the removal of key regulatory safeguards, making it difficult to assess how much of the aid has directly or indirectly benefited the Taliban.
Since the group’s return to power in 2021, the U.S. government has spent billions on humanitarian and development projects aimed at supporting Afghan citizens. However, the report notes that aid distribution has relied heavily on Public International Organizations (PIOs), such as UN agencies and the World Bank, with little direct oversight from U.S. authorities.
Between August 2021 and September 2023, the U.S. State Department and USAID signed 86 agreements to fund PIOs operating in Afghanistan, amounting to over $3.038 billion. SIGAR’s review of these agreements sought to evaluate the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse in U.S.-funded programs.
The report details increasing Taliban interference in humanitarian operations. In February 2024, aid organizations reported that the Taliban had demanded access to recipient lists, attempted to control aid distribution locations, and sought influence over beneficiary selection. Later that year, the Taliban suspended mental health and psychosocial support services, as well as a women’s protection center.
By September 2024, SIGAR documented at least eight instances of Taliban interference, including the theft of aid supplies and the harassment of aid workers. The report also cited accounts from July 2023, where implementing partners reported being ordered not to provide direct assistance to women, instead requiring male relatives to collect aid on their behalf.
Despite Taliban rule, the U.S. remained Afghanistan’s largest donor until the Trump administration implemented a sweeping freeze on foreign aid, citing concerns over diversion and misuse.
The Trump administration’s aid freeze has further worsened the humanitarian crisis, disrupting critical programs such as healthcare, landmine removal, and food security. While emergency food aid remains exempt, humanitarian organizations remain uncertain about the extent of exemptions and the future of their operations in Afghanistan.
With U.S. aid to Afghanistan in decline, SIGAR is set to shut down by September this year—a move experts warn could further weaken oversight and increase the risk of American taxpayer funds inadvertently benefiting the Taliban.
