Unraveling the Web of Corruption: How U.S. Support Enabled Taliban’s Comeback in Afghanistan

According to a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the U.S. relied on local commanders and warlords accused of human rights violations and trafficking to combat the Taliban; this financial and political support established a corrupt structure in Afghanistan that ultimately reduced public trust and helped the Taliban regain power…

The Role of Washington’s Aid in the Rise of Human Rights Violating Commanders

According to SIGAR’s report, during its military operations after 2001, Washington heavily relied on local commanders and forces to counter insurgencies and the Taliban, many of whom themselves committed human rights violations, drug trafficking, and personal abuses.

Collaboration with Corrupt Hands

David Barno, former commander of U.S. and international coalition forces in Afghanistan, openly acknowledged that many of those whom U.S. forces collaborated with had corrupt hands and were, in fact, recognized as warlords. According to SIGAR’s findings, some of these commanders exploited their positions for personal goals and turned their local disputes into a part of the international forces’ counterinsurgency mission. This situation fueled public dissatisfaction among local people. British General Nick Carter stated regarding Gul Agha Shirzai, former governor of Kandahar, that he introduced non-Taliban forces as insurgents, leading people towards the Taliban. SIGAR’s report specifically mentions the case of Abdul Razzaq Achakzai, former police chief of Kandahar. Achakzai was accused of extrajudicial killings, torture, and the disappearance of individuals, yet the U.S. considered him a necessary evil for its operations. This U.S. support included granting millions of dollars for training and funding its forces, which led to Abdul Razzaq’s rapid rise in southern Afghanistan.

Establishing Corruption and Assisting the Taliban’s Rise to Power

SIGAR concludes that despite being aware of the moral corruptions and human rights violations, the U.S. politically and financially legitimized these commanders, effectively establishing a corrupt structure in Afghanistan. This support, which began with the aim of combating the Taliban and al-Qaeda after 2001, ultimately resulted in the entrenchment of corruption, human rights violations, and widespread violence in the areas under these commanders’ influence, leading to a decrease in public trust in the central government. This corrupt structure ultimately served as one of the key factors aiding the Taliban’s resurgence.