Blinken grilled over ‘tens of billions’ US dollars sent to Taliban’s Afghanistan

Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., recently criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the estimated “tens of billions” of U.S. taxpayer dollars that have been sent to the Taliban since the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Mast, who was appointed as the new chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee, grilled Blinken on the Biden administration’s handling of the chaotic August 2021 withdrawal. The current committee chair, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, issued multiple subpoenas for Blinken to testify in September, which led Blinken to finally agree under the threat of a contempt of Congress vote.

During the hearing, Mast questioned Blinken on whether he had visited Afghanistan since the tragic suicide bombing attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport’s Abbey Gate that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and around 170 Afghan civilians. Blinken admitted that he had not visited Afghanistan since the attack. Mast pointed out that despite the loss of control of the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan, the United States was still providing significant funds to the Taliban.

Mast highlighted that millions of dollars were being sent to the Taliban for various programs, including $14.9 million to teach Afghans carpet weaving and $280 million for cash transfers for food through the United Nations. He also questioned the allocation of $75 million to teach Afghan women farming, given the restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban.

Furthermore, Mast criticized the transfer of $3.5 billion to an Afghan fund aimed at maintaining financial stability for the Afghan people, calling it “gibberish.” He also raised concerns about the $9 billion spent on resettling Afghan refugees in the United States, questioning the high cost per person.

In response, Blinken defended the funding provided to Afghanistan through partners like the United Nations and NGOs, emphasizing the lives saved in a difficult situation. However, Mast expressed skepticism about the transparency and effectiveness of these programs, citing instances where funds were misused, such as a grant intended for promoting humanism and secularism in Nepal.

Overall, Mast urged caution in sending taxpayer dollars to Afghanistan without proper oversight and accountability, especially in the absence of U.S. diplomatic presence in the country. The hearing underscored the need for a thorough review of the funds allocated to Afghanistan and the Taliban to ensure that they are used effectively and in line with U.S. interests.

This detailed article highlights Rep. Brian Mast’s scrutiny of the funds sent to the Taliban post-U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, shedding light on the concerns raised during the congressional hearing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.