What happened: US has warned the Taliban that they will not assist a government imposed by force in Afghanistan and will only continue financial assistance if a recognized government is in charge. Taliban has expanded control over Afghanistan to more than 50 districts since President Joe Biden announced his plan to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by Sept 11. The U.S. intelligence concluded that the government of Afghanistan could collapse as soon as six months after the American military withdrawal from the country is completed.
Backstory: The United States is the biggest grant to Afghanistan, spending $35.5 billion last year, followed by Germany ($28.4bn), Britain ($18.6bn), Japan ($16.3bn) and France ($14.1bn). World Bank states that the country’s structural trade deficit of around 30 percent and is financed almost entirely from grant inflows. These funds also finance around 75 percent of public spending. Taliban has expanded control over Afghanistan to more than 50 districts since President Joe Biden announced his plan to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by Sept 11. An intelligence report warned that the current setup in Kabul could collapse within six months after the American withdrawal. At a Tuesday afternoon news briefing in Washington, State Department spokesperson Ned Price also specified that the US would only financially assist Afghanistan if the country’s government is recognized by all. “The world will not accept the imposition by force of a government in Afghanistan,” Mr Price stated. He was referring to the media reports that highlighted Taliban victories against the Kabul government.
“Legitimacy and assistance for any Afghan government can only be possible if that government has respect for human rights, if that government has credibility, if that government has legitimacy, including in the eyes of its own people,” Mr Price further added. Click here to see more from ProperGaanda.