The Afghan government has criticized the United States’ decision to allocate $2 billion in humanitarian aid to United Nations programs while excluding Afghanistan, calling the move contrary to international law and humanitarian principles, and stressing that aid must remain separate from politics.
kabul 24: Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister for Professional Affairs at the Ministry of Economy under the Afghanistan administration, stated: “Although Afghanistan’s current policy focuses on self-reliance and utilizing domestic resources and capacities, excluding Afghanistan from international humanitarian assistance is in complete contradiction with the principles of international law and established humanitarian practices.”He added: “We believe that economic and humanitarian issues must be clearly separated from political matters. Humanitarian aid should not be politicized.
Undoubtedly, the people of Afghanistan have the right to benefit from international assistance, and such aid should reach those in need without conditions or discrimination.”The United States recently announced the $2 billion contribution to UN humanitarian programs but removed Afghanistan and Yemen from the initial list of recipients. U.S. officials cited concerns over potential diversion of funds to the Afghanistan and similar groups in Yemen.
Jeremy Lewin, the U.S. Special Representative for Foreign Assistance, emphasized that Washington has evidence of UN funds in Afghanistan being diverted to the Taliban, adding that the Trump administration will not tolerate even a single cent of American taxpayer money reaching terrorist groups.
This decision comes as Afghanistan faces one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. According to UN reports, more than 21 million people in the country require urgent assistance, with projections indicating the number could rise in 2026.
Excluding Afghanistan from this U.S. aid package—previously the largest donor to the country—has raised serious concerns about worsening hunger, malnutrition, and shortages of essential services.
The Taliban government has previously emphasized economic self-sufficiency in response to similar reductions in direct U.S. aid, while simultaneously calling for continued humanitarian support free from political interference.
International experts warn that such measures, though aimed at preventing misuse, ultimately cause the greatest harm to ordinary Afghans suffering from economic hardship, social restrictions, and natural disasters.
The Afghan government’s response reflects an effort to maintain a principled stance amid international pressure, as the global community seeks to balance humanitarian imperatives with security concerns.
