Pompeo: U.S. to cut $1B in aid to Afghanistan over political turmoil – By OAN Newsroom (OANN) / March 24 2020
The Trump administration recently announced a significant cut to U.S. aid going to Afghanistan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday the U.S. is reducing aid by $1 billion after he was unable to convince Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah to form a unified government.
Pompeo made an unannounced visit to Kabul on Monday in hopes of bringing both sides together to end a feud that has severely threatened U.S. brokered peace talks in the region. The secretary of state confirmed the U.S. is prepared to issue another billion dollar cut in 2021 if the political rift in the country continues.
The State Department chief also reportedly met with a Taliban spokesperson to discuss now-stalled peace negotiations between the group and the Afghan government. Afghan officials have been skeptical of the U.S.-Taliban peace talks and claimed they have been left out of most of the process.
Particularly, officials have expressed consternation over part of the deal requiring the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners provided the Taliban reduces violence in the region. This is a provision the Afghan government reluctantly agreed to.
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