Latest news with #SIGAR
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Taliban meddling in Afghanistan aid: UN
The United Nations logo is displayed on a door at U.N. headquarters in New York February 26, 2011. REUTERS/ Joshua Lott The United Nations said Thursday it follows strict rules for distributing international aid in Afghanistan, after a US government watchdog alleged funds were diverted by the Taliban authorities, including through collusion with UN officials. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said it took "extremely seriously any allegations of malpractice and corruption," in a statement acknowledging the report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) published Wednesday. The UN said delivering aid in Afghanistan was "extremely complex", marked by "attempts at interference and restrictions" by Taliban officials. It emphasised, however, "robust safeguards" were in place to "ensure critical international assistance to the Afghan people reaches those who need it most". In interviews with 90 people, including UN and US government officials, SIGAR said it found that "the Taliban use every means at their disposal, including force, to ensure that aid goes where they want it to, as opposed to where donors intend".
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
US watchdog: Taliban divert aid by force, sideline minorities, collude with UN officials
WASHINGTON, Aug 14 — Afghanistan's Taliban rulers divert international aid by force and other means, block minority communities from receiving aid and may collude with UN officials to seek kickbacks, a US watchdog said on Tuesday. The US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said its findings were based on input from nearly 90 current and former US officials, UN officials and others. The sources included Afghans in Afghanistan, the report said. 'In Afghanistan, SIGAR found that the Taliban use every means at their disposal, including force, to ensure that aid goes where they want it to go, as opposed to where donors intend,' the report said. Taliban spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat denied the allegations. He said international aid is distributed independently in Afghanistan and government agencies cooperate 'to ensure transparency' and prevent diversion. SIGAR said an employee of an Afghan aid organisation who participated in the report was killed for exposing the diversion of food aid to a Taliban military training camp. But it could not confirm who was responsible. The UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently confirm the charges. International donors provided US$10.72 billion (RM45 billion) in aid, including US$3.83 billion by the United States, between August 2021 when the Taliban took over Afghanistan and April 2025 when the Trump administration ended most US aid, the report said. The report said the Taliban used force and regulatory powers among other means to control aid. This included determining which humanitarian groups can operate, directing US-funded aid to favored majority Pashtun communities at the expense of minorities and extorting humanitarian workers. SIGAR also heard from interviewees allegations that UN officials demanded bribes from companies and aid groups for UN contracts, the report said. Taliban officials allegedly 'collude with UN officials to extort bribes from UN contractors and then split the proceeds,' the report said. — Reuters
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Did Taliban divert international aid? US watchdog blames Afghanistan rulers of using force; blocking assistance to minorities
ANI file photo Afghanistan's Taliban authorities are reportedly diverting international aid through coercion and other methods, denying assistance to minority communities, and may be working with UN officials to solicit kickbacks, a US watchdog reported on Tuesday. The findings, from the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), are based on accounts from nearly 90 current and former US and UN officials, as well as other sources. "In Afghanistan, SIGAR found that the Taliban use every means at their disposal, including force, to ensure that aid goes where they want it to go, as opposed to where donors intend," the report said, as per Reuters. SIGAR reported that an Afghan aid worker who contributed to the report was killed after revealing that food aid was diverted to a Taliban military training camp, but it could not confirm who was behind the killing, as per Reuters. Taliban spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat rejected the allegations, saying that government agencies work together to 'ensure transparency' and prevent any diversion, noting that aid in Afghanistan is distributed independently. The report claimed that the Taliban makes use of force and other regulatory measures to exert control over aid flow in the country. They also reportedly decide which humanitarian groups are allowed to operate, channeling US-funded assistance to the favored majority Pashtun communities over minority groups, and extorting humanitarian workers. Interviewees alleged that UN officials solicited bribes from companies and aid groups in exchange for contracts, and that Taliban officials allegedly "collude with UN officials to extort bribes from UN contractors and then split the proceeds," said the report, as per Reuters. Between August 2021, when the Taliban seized power, and April 2025, when the Trump administration cut most US assistance, international donors contributed $10.72 billion in aid to Afghanistan, including $3.83 billion from the United States, the report said.
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Taliban use force to divert international aid, US watchdog says
Taliban supporters hold an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan flag on the first anniversary of the departure of U.S. forces from the country, on a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 30, 2022. REUTERS/Ali Khara/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Afghanistan's Taliban rulers divert international aid by force and other means, block minority communities from receiving aid and may collude with U.N. officials to seek kickbacks, a U.S. watchdog said on Tuesday. The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said its findings were based on input from nearly 90 current and former U.S. officials, U.N. officials and others. The sources included Afghans in Afghanistan, the report said. "In Afghanistan, SIGAR found that the Taliban use every means at their disposal, including force, to ensure that aid goes where they want it to go, as opposed to where donors intend," the report said. Taliban spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat denied the allegations. He said international aid is distributed independently in Afghanistan and government agencies cooperate "to ensure transparency" and prevent diversion. SIGAR said an employee of an Afghan aid organization who participated in the report was killed for exposing the diversion of food aid to a Taliban military training camp. But it could not confirm who was responsible. The U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently confirm the charges. International donors provided $10.72 billion in aid, including $3.83 billion by the United States, between August 2021 when the Taliban took over Afghanistan and April 2025 when the Trump administration ended most U.S. aid, the report said. The report said the Taliban used force and regulatory powers among other means to control aid. This included determining which humanitarian groups can operate, directing U.S.-funded aid to favored majority Pashtun communities at the expense of minorities and extorting humanitarian workers. SIGAR also heard from interviewees allegations that U.N. officials demanded bribes from companies and aid groups for U.N. contracts, the report said. Taliban officials allegedly "collude with U.N. officials to extort bribes from U.N. contractors and then split the proceeds," the report said. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Saeed Shah in Islamabad; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Taliban use force to divert international aid, US watchdog says
WASHINGTON: Afghanistan's Taliban rulers divert international aid by force and other means, block minority communities from receiving aid and may collude with U.N. officials to seek kickbacks, a U.S. watchdog said on Tuesday. The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said its findings were based on input from nearly 90 current and former U.S. officials, U.N. officials and others. The sources included Afghans in Afghanistan, the report said. 'In Afghanistan, SIGAR found that the Taliban use every means at their disposal, including force, to ensure that aid goes where they want it to go, as opposed to where donors intend,' the report said. Taliban spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat denied the allegations. He said international aid is distributed independently in Afghanistan and government agencies cooperate 'to ensure transparency' and prevent diversion. SIGAR said an employee of an Afghan aid organization who participated in the report was killed for exposing the diversion of food aid to a Taliban military training camp. But it could not confirm who was responsible. The U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently confirm the charges. International donors provided $10.72 billion in aid, including $3.83 billion by the United States, between August 2021 when the Taliban took over Afghanistan and April 2025 when the Trump administration ended most U.S. aid, the report said. The report said the Taliban used force and regulatory powers among other means to control aid. This included determining which humanitarian groups can operate, directing U.S.-funded aid to favored majority Pashtun communities at the expense of minorities and extorting humanitarian workers. SIGAR also heard from interviewees allegations that U.N. officials demanded bribes from companies and aid groups for U.N. contracts, the report said. Taliban officials allegedly 'collude with U.N. officials to extort bribes from U.N. contractors and then split the proceeds,' the report said - REUTERS
