The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), in its latest quarterly report to Congress, announced that for the first time in 24 years, the United States has cut off all assistance to Afghanistan, effectively marking the end of Washington’s long chapter of “presence and engagement” in the country. The report stated, “What happens in Afghanistan from this point forward will depend on the people of Afghanistan.”
As it prepares to wind down its operations, SIGAR’s final assessment highlighted widespread corruption and mismanagement as key reasons behind the failure of U.S. reconstruction programs, noting that at least $24 billion of American taxpayers’ money was wasted on Afghanistan projects.
Reactions inside the country have been mixed. Critics argue that halting aid amounts to the U.S. abandoning its responsibility for the outcome in Afghanistan and will place even greater strain on an economy and public services already crippled by a severe humanitarian crisis and widespread poverty. They warn that such a move effectively punishes ordinary citizens while leaving the Taliban’s governing structure intact. Some also caution that the cessation of aid could create more space for extremist groups and fuel the expansion of the narcotics trade.
Supporters of the decision contend that continuing aid under current conditions would only strengthen the Taliban, who maintain full control over Afghanistan’s financial and administrative institutions. They argue that a significant share of assistance ends up, directly or indirectly, in Taliban hands, and that cutting aid could apply political and economic pressure that might eventually force the group to alter its behavior.
Independent analysts see the move as a pivotal moment in U.S. policy toward Afghanistan. After two decades of war and reconstruction, the future of the country has now been effectively handed over to its own citizens. Yet the central question remains: Will the international community play a cautious role in preventing a total economic and humanitarian collapse even after the end of U.S. assistance? And, more critically, can the people of Afghanistan take control of their destiny and build a different future without external support?
