Sun Feb 02 05:30:00 IST 2025: ## US Questions Taliban’s Right to Billions in Afghan Funds

**Kabul/Washington, Feb 2, 2025** – A US government watchdog has questioned the Taliban’s right to access nearly $4 billion in Afghan funds held in a Swiss-based trust. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) released a report Friday stating that the Taliban, due to their lack of US recognition as the Afghan government and their designation as a terrorist group, are ineligible for these assets.

The funds, initially $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan central bank assets, were transferred to the Fund for the Afghan People in 2022. SIGAR suggests that the Trump administration and Congress should consider reclaiming the money. The Afghan Economy Ministry strongly rejected this proposal, stating the frozen assets totaled over $9 billion and that any US action regarding them was unacceptable. They urged the international community to return the funds to Afghanistan’s central bank.

The report also highlighted that despite nearly $3.71 billion in US spending in Afghanistan since 2021 – largely channeled to UN agencies – the Taliban continues to hold Americans hostage, suppress women’s rights, and allow Afghanistan to become a haven for terrorists. SIGAR noted concerns about the lack of transparency in aid disbursement. While humanitarian aid may have prevented famine, it has not altered the Taliban’s actions, the report stressed.

Separately, Afghan authorities announced the takeover of the Kabul Serena Hotel, explaining that the previous management contract had been terminated and a new international company will now manage the hotel. The name of the new managing company was not disclosed.

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