(UTV|COLOMBO) – The Trump administration wanted to reimburse the Taliban for their expenses attending recent peace talks, according to a congressional aide.
But a Capitol Hill committee denied the request to cover the militants’ costs such as food and lodging, foreign media reports.
It was rejected because it would have amounted to support for terrorists.
The Pentagon confirmed it “requested the authority to use funds to facilitate [the] meetings”.
Since October 2018, the US government has held six rounds of peace negotiations with the Taliban in Qatar’s capital, Doha, aimed at paving the way for a safe US exit from Afghanistan.
The funding requested by the Pentagon was intended to reimburse the group for costs incurred while participating in the talks, including supplies, food, accommodation and transportation, according to Kevin Spicer, spokesman for Representative Peter Visclosky of Indiana.
“The Defense Department requested fiscal year 2020 funding to support certain reconciliation activities, including logistic support for members of the Taliban and, in March 2019, they sent a notification letter to the Committee on using fiscal year 2019 funds for similar activities,” Mr Spicer said.
On Wednesday, the House Appropriations defence subcommittee, chaired by Mr Visclosky, approved a $690.2bn (£617.4bn) spending bill that specifically prohibits reimbursing expenses for the militants.
None of the funds made available by the bill may be used “to pay for the expenses of any member of the Taliban to participate in any meeting that does not include the participation of members of the Government of Afghanistan or that restricts the participation of women”, the legislation said.
Mr Visclosky included the provision because the request for funding would violate laws concerning material support for terrorist groups, said Mr Spicer. (Courtesy: BBC)
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