Taliban says US will provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KATHY GANNON

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The U.S. has agreed to provide humanitarian aid to a desperately poor Afghanistan on the brink of an economic disaster, while refusing to give political recognition to the country’s new Taliban rulers, the Taliban said Sunday.

The statement came at the end of the first direct talks between the former foes since the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops at the end of August.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. on the weekend meeting.

The Taliban said the talks held in Doha, Qatar, “went well,” with Washington freeing up humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after agreeing not to link such assistance to formal recognition of the Taliban.



Relatives and residents attend a funeral ceremony for victims of a suicide attack at the Gozar-e-Sayed Abad Mosque in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. The mosque was packed with Shiite Muslim worshippers when an Islamic State suicide bomber attacked during Friday prayers, killing dozens in the latest security challenge to the Taliban as they transition from insurgency to governance. (AP Photo/Abdullah Sahil)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-business-taliban-islamic-state-group-united-states-0f386a9d22bafa86601c8a6251b02bc6

[Faux pas]

1. I hope not

that money will just end up with the taliban. We need to quit being the world's BIGGEST SUCKERS

[maxsolomon]

3. aid isn't just money.

flour, rice, USAID type stuff.

trying to avert a famine in the wake of our departure.

[former9thward]

17. The food will supply the Taliban.

Not the people. We need to stay out.

[maxsolomon]

18. some will get through.

the taliban will extort with it, no doubt.

[jimfields33]

5. Absolutely. We need to stay out and let the afghans fight this.

They begged us to leave. I think we should respect their wishes.

[NotHardly]

2. You're a SUCKER if you do

[msongs]

4. cut out the middle man and send the aid directly to the mullah crowd nt

[Backseat Driver]

6. Just a big NO!

If we're not recognizing their government nor will the UN give this new government a seat at the all-talk global big org in NY, how do we send in humanitarian aid (not funds) in safety? On Taliban promises - yeah, that will work well! Wine and dine the residents so the fundies have some time and more clout while stocking up armaments? Send back the more educated linguists, officers in their military, supply logistical distributors of aid, and educated medical professionals that got the H out on and at our advice?

Let the MLBs Saudi citizens and monarchy clan, who I thought were so big on showing empathy and hospitality to the family of Allah, bring it to their own pathetic brethren that aren't even able to do anything but take and take and take, well...

[Escurumbele]

7. This is fake news, right???? Tell me that it is...

Why would the USA help the Taliban? It doesn't make sense.

I understand that we need to see the details, but I really hope that it is not true. Even if its food and other things, that is still coming out of the Tax payers, money that we need invested in the USA.

[old guy]

8. When will the weapons shipments begin?

[secondwind]

9. I'm OK with this..........

The Taliban is dirt poor now, because all their money is being held up... They don't have a dime. The men, women and children of Afghanistan shouldn't have to suffer and go hungry, etc.

We froze their assets, remember?

[Igel]

20. We froze the opium trade?

Really?

The Taliban's assets were frozen long ago. They've adapted.

The Afghan government pre-coup, *their* assets were frozen.

[Dan]

10. Hopefully, they put conditions on it

Maybe like recognizing that females have “some” rights.

[JI7]

11. Who will be in charge of distributing the aid to the people ?

[Ritabert]

12. Let Muslim nations in the area provide aid

...particularly Pakistan who let the Taliban hide out there. Also Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkmenistan, Qatar, Turkey, etc. No US money until they start behaving like they're in the 21st century.

[Aussie105]

13. Mixed messages from the Taliban?

Pre withdrawal:
Get out of OUR country, Americans!

After withdrawal:
What? You left! Come back, help us!

Suddenly, the country is in a mess? It's been that way for decades, but now they are in power, they suddenly notice?

No, I don't know the answer. Ignore them, their country, their problem?
Hand the problem over to the UN?
Air drops of food to poorer districts, bypassing the Taliban control of things?

The truth is that Afghanistan has always been a poor country, with factions based on religion and geographical tribalism struggling to gain dominance and control over a very small pot of political power and economic wealth.

American boots on the ground just made them join together to fight a common enemy.

Now they are going back to what they were doing before.

[Steelrolled]

14. Providing humanitarian aide to countries with authoritarian governments that

have poor human rights records is pretty common these days.

It is one way that the west prolongs the pain and suffering. It also helps keep the despots in power. There must be some strategy behind this but I don't see it.

Edit for typo.

[bluedigger]

15. I don't see any moral high ground on setting preconditions for food and medicine.

We have a moral duty to help all in dire need as best we can.

[dutch777]

16. Heck, we don't even give meaningful aid to Haiti in our own backyard.

Please, not without some serious conditions about human rights and not supporting terrorist groups and helping to contain ISIS.

[maxsolomon]

19. Good point.

We should help Haiti more.

[Igel]

21. Airlifts after the quake.

The rest ... corruption.

Haiti--or its rulers--got lots of aid.

[DallasNE]

22. A Lot Of Right Wing Talking Points In This Thread

There are few good options available, that I will concede. The last government was extremely corrupt. The former leader fled the country with $250 million in American greenbacks. There will be corruption this time too but on a smaller scale, as I see it. Remember, they recently suffered an ISIS suicide bomber attack that killed scores and injured many more. Expect more of that down the road. The Taliban will have their hands full dealing with that.

I would like to see international supervision of the humanitarian aid. Indeed, I expect there are/will be conditions set and we just don't know the details. Let's not jump to conclusions. We had 20 years of war and corruption so we are talking about pennies compared to what we threw down the rat hole over those 20 years. They likely need Covid-19 vaccines too. Distribute the shots at the same time as the rations. No shots, no rations.

Yes, I understand the Republican's are waiting in ambush so the visuals are poor. Still, doing the right thing, with conditions, is the right policy. You can't be afraid of what the Republicans will say. I am with Biden on this, at least so far. I think he knows what he is doing.

[roamer65]

23. Let the Sino-Russian alliance do it.

They funded the Taliban.