Taliban Must Not Receive American Taxpayers’ Funds, Says US Congresswoman
Anna Paulina Luna, a member of the United States House of Representatives, has strongly criticised the $40 million aid package being sent by the United States to the Taliban.
Writing on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), she stated, “Terrorists must not receive even a penny from American taxpayers’ money.”
Ms Luna emphasised, “We are sending $40 million a week to the Taliban—the very group that threatens our sovereignty and security.”
The congresswoman voiced her support for fellow Representative Tim Burchett’s proposal to halt financial assistance to the Taliban. She further added that Burchett’s proposed bill aims to put an end to such financial transfers.
Last week, Burchett announced that he had submitted a bill to the House of Representatives seeking to prohibit taxpayer money from being directed to the Taliban. Referring to this legislative proposal, Luna remarked that the bill would terminate the transfer of funds to the militant group.
Luna represents the state of Florida in the U.S. Congress.
The issue of financial assistance to Afghanistan under Taliban rule has become a focal point of debate among Republican lawmakers. Recently, Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and influential advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, also commented on the controversy.
Donald Trump, the U.S. President-elect, stated during a press conference on Tuesday that the U.S. government is “sending billions of dollars to the Taliban.” He condemned the financial aid as “unacceptable” and insisted that such assistance “should not be happening.”
Critics of the Taliban have welcomed the remarks made by the incoming administration, arguing that the Taliban is using American taxpayers’ money to fuel terrorism within Afghanistan.
However, Taliban officials have denied receiving any financial assistance from the United States.
