U.S. Equipment Diverted to Terror Networks
The Taliban generated $3.4 billion in revenue over the past year, with American-supplied weapons increasingly finding their way to terrorist groups as Afghanistan reemerges as a hub for extremist activity, according to a new report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).
The findings highlight how the chaotic 2021 U.S. withdrawal, during which 13 American service members were killed, left behind 78 aircraft, 40,000 military vehicles, and over 300,000 weapons. Of the $18.6 billion in equipment provided to the Afghan Army over decades, SIGAR reports $7.12 billion worth remains in Taliban hands. Many of these weapons have been transferred to groups like al Qaeda, the
"Terrorist groups continued to use Afghan soil to train and plan attacks," SIGAR warned, noting a "small but steady" influx of foreign fighters joining over two dozen active terrorist organizations in the country. This resurgence comes as the Taliban solidifies control over a nation now viewed by U.S., UN, and regional officials as a revitalized jihadist epicenter.
Aid Programs Curtailed Amid Corruption Concerns
The Biden-Harris administration previously allocated nearly $4 billion to Afghanistan post-withdrawal, but aid efforts were plagued by corruption. SIGAR documented instances where American partners paid the Taliban at least $10.9 million in fees. In response, the State Department froze most U.S.-funded programs by early April, citing "Taliban interference" and "misuse" of aid. Only two initiatives remain: one supporting Afghan students abroad and another for online education.
The now-defunct programs included a $62 million effort to empower young women through vocational training and a $14.9 million grant to boost jobs in traditional industries like carpet-weaving. Despite past U.S. investments in girls' education, the Taliban continues to bar most females from schools and workplaces.
SIGAR, which has overseen U.S.-Afghanistan reconstruction since 2008, will disband next year as aid winds down. Its final reports underscore long-term risks: diverted weapons, persistent corruption, and a terrorist landscape that has grown more dangerous since the U.S. exit.