David O’Brien and Besmillah Taban
The decision by the Trump administration to cut billions of dollars in aid to the world’s poorest regions will have far-reaching consequences. In Afghanistan, it may lead to increased Taliban repression of the population, while China stands poised to increase its influence in the country.
President Donald Trump justified his decision by claiming that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was run by “radical lunatics.” Elon Musk, who leads the government’s cost-cutting program, called it a “criminal organization.”
Despite the Taliban’s dominance, U.S. aid has played a vital role in Afghanistan, with $21 billion in humanitarian aid sent to the country through various agencies since the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021. The relative stability of Afghanistan’s economy largely depended on the continuation of these aid flows.
Although the Taliban repeatedly denied their dependence on and connection with the United States and its financial assistance, the immediate impact of this decision became apparent when Afghan government employees were informed that their salaries had been suspended for the next three months due to “technical” reasons.
To make up for the shortfall, the Taliban government is likely to increase Zakat and Usher religious taxes, hugely increasing pressure on the already struggling Afghan population.
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