A probe revealed up to $29 billion was squandered through fraud and poor management.
A government oversight body’s new report indicates that the U.S. government potentially lost as much as $29 billion due to mismanagement and malfeasance during its time in Afghanistan, while simultaneously pursuing unattainable objectives in the nation.
The report, which was made public on Wednesday, is the result of a 17-year investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). It found 1,327 instances of waste, fraud, and abuse totaling $26 to $29.2 billion, with the majority lost because of inefficiencies and the incorrect use of resources. Fraud was responsible for about 2% of the total, while abuse accounted for 4%. The watchdog emphasized that more than $4.6 billion in taxpayer funds might have been saved.
SIGAR stated that America’s “20-year mission to build a stable, democratic” Afghanistan failed because it was based on unrealistic expectations from the start and was made worse by corruption and misuse of public funds. According to the watchdog, Afghanistan should serve as a warning, advising policymakers that any future reconstruction effort of a similar size must recognize the possibility of failure from the outset.
Following the September 11 attacks, for which Washington held Al-Qaeda accountable, the United States invaded Afghanistan in late 2001. The leaders of the group, including Osama bin Laden, were located in Afghanistan, which was under Taliban control. According to SIGAR, the US spent $763 billion on war and approximately $145 billion on reconstruction up to 2021.
In July 2021, U.S. forces withdrew hastily, a month before the Taliban retook Kabul and overthrew the Western-backed government. The departure resulted in a significant amount of military equipment and infrastructure being left behind, including Bagram Air Base, which had formerly served as the invasion’s primary hub.
Former US President Donald Trump attributed Kabul’s fall to his successor, Joe Biden, calling the tumultuous withdrawal “a disgrace.” He has asserted that Washington “should take back” Bagram, implying that it might once again further U.S. national security interests. The Taliban government has rejected the notion, asserting that foreign soldiers would never be permitted to return to Afghanistan.
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