UN Officials, Taliban Collude to Divert International Aid in Afghanistan

A recent report by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reveals that senior United Nations officials colluded with the Taliban to divert international aid intended for Afghanistan's population. These U.N. officials demanded bribes from NGOs and contractors in exchange for lucrative aid contracts, with estimates of bribes ranging from 5 to 50 percent of contract values. The Taliban used force, regulatory control, and extortion to ensure aid flowed to favored majority Pashtun areas and Taliban-linked entities, often excluding minority communities and redirecting resources such as food aid to Taliban military camps. The report cites that only 30 to 40 percent of international aid actually reached those in need, with U.N. agencies like the World Food Programme implicated as major sources of corruption. Despite Taliban denials and official U.S. claims that aid does not benefit the Taliban, evidence from nearly 90 sources including U.S. and U.N. officials indicates a pervasive pay-to-play culture and collusion between Taliban and U.N. officials. The findings highlight serious challenges to the integrity and efficacy of aid distribution in Afghanistan during the Taliban's rule.