The Afghan currency has experienced a sudden dip in value after reports emerged that aid worth over $40 million from the United States could be halted.
The AFN’s value fell to 72.40 against the US dollar in Kabul on Saturday as a result of the speculation, according to a TKD correspondent.
A bill aimed at preventing US financial aid from reaching the Taliban regime in Afghanistan has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. Congressman Tim Burchett, a vocal critic of the Taliban and supporter of the National Resistance Front, submitted the “No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act.”
The bill proposes a three-pronged approach to ensure US taxpayer money is not used to support the Taliban. First, it mandates the State Department to create and implement a policy specifically designed to prevent any foreign aid from reaching the Taliban. Second, the US government would be required to provide detailed reports on its cash assistance programs in Afghanistan, outlining measures taken to prevent Taliban access. Third, the bill calls for transparency reports from the Afghanistan Trust Fund and the Taliban-controlled Central Bank.
Burchett, who has previously warned of potential terrorist attacks funded by US aid diverted to the Taliban, expressed his frustration that such a bill is even necessary. He has repeatedly emphasized his belief that US financial aid to Afghanistan is directly contributing to the funding of terrorist activities. His concerns were recently highlighted in an exchange with Elon Musk, where he asserted that the next terrorist attack on US soil could be directly funded by American taxpayers.
Burchett’s concerns are not new. He previously sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging an immediate halt to cash transfers to the Taliban, stating that funding enemies abroad is unacceptable, particularly given the significant sums involved – an estimated $40 million per week.
While the US State Department maintains that the over $2 billion in aid provided to Afghan organizations over the past three years is solely for humanitarian relief efforts targeting ordinary Afghans facing famine and food shortages, critics argue that this aid inadvertently strengthens the Taliban government. However, humanitarian organizations consider the suspension of aid to Afghanistan catastrophic and advocate for increased financial assistance.
