A subcommittee of the US House of Representatives has voted to block almost $4 billion in aid to Afghanistan over fears about corruption and donor aid leaving the country.
The subcommittee responsible for overseeing State Department and foreign operations voted to block $3.9 billion aid that the Obama administration sought for Kabul because of recent news reports of corruption there and billions in cash being flown out of the country.
The Washington Post reported on Monday that US law enforcement officials who are partnering with the Afghan attorney general's anti-corruption taskforce have grown frustrated by repeated instances in which political pressure has derailed investigations targeting senior government officials and other prominent Afghans.
Military operations and humanitarian aid will not be affected by the cut-back in funding.
The panel's chairwoman, Representative Nita Lowey, said the aid could be reconsidered once the panel has held hearings this summer to review Kabul's actions to fight corruption - and can ensure US dollars are not diverted.
“I do not intend to appropriate one more dime for assistance to Afghanistan until I have confidence that US taxpayer money is not being abused to line the pockets of corrupt Afghan government officials, drug lords and terrorists,” Ms Lowey, who chairs said in a statement
“Rampant corruption fosters the conditions that threaten the security of our troops and the stability of the Afghan government and economy.”
Ms Lowey also wrote to US government auditors asking them to audit all US aid to Afghanistan from the last three years.
US attorney general Eric Holder met Afghan president Hamid Karzai in Kabul yesterday to discuss tackling corruption, applauding steps taken so far but saying "much work remains to be done."
The move came as the senate unanimously voted to confirm David Petraeus as commander of the troubled Afghan war, pinning US hopes on the four-star general who helped turn around the conflict in Iraq.
Gen Petraeus, seen by some analysts as President Barack Obama's last, best hope to salvage the Afghan mission, won full support from both Mr Obama's Democrats and opposition Republicans after the previous commander was sacked one week ago.
He was confirmed in a 99-0 vote on the Senate floor.
The support for Gen Petraeus came despite growing anxiety in both parties about an unpopular war, in which casualties are rising ahead of November US congressional elections.
"Regardless of who is in command, the president's current strategy in Afghanistan is counterproductive," Senator Russ Feingold, a Democrat, said after voting in a favour of Gen Petraeus, whom he stressed was "clearly qualified" for the job.
Agencies