Pompeo to Cut Foreign Aid to ‘Corrupt’ Afghanistan

“Incapable of being a partner,” were the words Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had for Afghan, announcing on Thursday that Washington is rescinding $160 million in aid due to corruption.

$100 million of the funding were meant to go for an energy project which would provide power to two cities in southern and southeastern Afghanistan, however the sum is being returned to the Treasury and another $60 million in aid to the Afghan government are being withheld.

“We stand against those who exploit their positions of power and influence to deprive the Afghan people of the benefits of foreign assistance and a more prosperous future,” Pompeo said in a written statement.

“We expect the Afghan government to demonstrate a clear commitment to fight corruption, to serve the Afghan people and to maintain their trust,” Pompeo added. “Afghan leaders who fail to meet this standard should be held accountable.”

With the country’s upcoming presidential elections on September 28, a critical time in Afghanistan, the move the U.S. has made comes as a shock to the Afghan government, which relies almost entirely on foreign aid, however Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said anything that can be done to support the process – the U.S. will do.

“We want free and fair elections. We’re going to do everything we can to support them, and we need every actor in the region – every leader, every citizen in Afghanistan – to work towards that end… That’s been our mission there for quite some time,” Pompeo said.

The presidential election may not be completely safe, as a rise in violence in recent weeks has brought about dozens killed in attacks on campaigns and President Ghani’s rally this week.

Talks with the Taliban that President Trump had initiated to make a deal, however after a bombing in Kabul, in which an American soldier and 11 Afghans were killed, Trump declared peace negotiations “dead”.

The 18-year war, costing $800 billion, including the cost of U.S. forces on Afghanistan’s territory and one which the U.S. has made a goal to end, still seems to be in a deadlock.