Tim Burchett, a member of the US House of Representatives, has written a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, urging the immediate cessation of US aid to Afghanistan.
In his letter, Burchett emphasized that aid to Afghanistan should not continue. He said, “I implore you to take action to put an end to wasteful foreign aid spending and to support efforts in congress to put Americans first.”
Poverty and unemployment have long been persistent issues in Afghanistan. Abdul Latif, a Kabul resident, shared his struggles saying: “There are six people in my household, and we pay 3,500 afghani in rent. I am the only breadwinner, and there is no income. I urge the Islamic Emirate to assist us. When we approach the local representative, our name is not included on the aid list.”
In response to Burchett’s statement, the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Economy said that politics and economics should be kept separate and that aid to Afghanistan should continue.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy of the Ministry of Economy, said, “We have always emphasized that political issues should be separated from economic matters, and assistance to the Afghan people should continue. The international community has a responsibility to help and support the Afghan people.”
Economic analyst Abdul Zahoor Madabar told “Humanitarian aid is not a long-term economic solution for the country, but given the current economic crisis, it does have its impact. If aid is reduced or completely halted, it could have negative consequences for Afghanistan.”
Over the past three years, the United States has provided nearly $3 billion in aid to Afghanistan.