Kabul: The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has accused the Taliban of using force, coercion, and discriminatory practices to divert international humanitarian aid away from its intended recipients. The allegations, based on nearly 90 interviews with U.S. officials, United Nations staff, and Afghan citizens, also raise concerns over possible collusion with UN personnel.
According to the report, the Taliban has exerted strict control over which aid organizations are allowed to operate in the country, often demanding bribes or applying regulatory pressure to ensure aid flows to areas favored by the regime, primarily those with Pashtun-majority populations. Minority communities have reportedly been excluded from receiving assistance.
The watchdog’s findings include claims that aid has been redirected to Taliban military facilities. In one instance, an Afghan aid worker who reported food being sent to a Taliban training camp was later killed, though the responsible party remains unknown. SIGAR also alleges that some UN officials solicited bribes from aid contractors and may have shared the proceeds with Taliban members.
Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat denied the accusations, asserting that aid distribution is transparent and well-monitored by government agencies. The United Nations has not issued an immediate response to the claims, and Reuters has noted it could not independently verify the allegations.
From August 2021 to April 2025, international donors provided Afghanistan with over \$10.72 billion in aid, including \$3.83 billion from the United States. In April 2025, the U.S. government suspended most of its assistance under the Trump administration, citing growing concerns over aid misuse and human rights abuses.
Humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan have worsened since the aid suspension, with widespread hunger and a collapsing healthcare system. The latest SIGAR report has prompted renewed calls for stricter monitoring mechanisms to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable populations and to restore confidence in international relief efforts.