(MENAFN- Daily Outlook Afghanistan) Pompeo cited corruption andAfghanistan's 'inability to transparently manage US government resources.
KABUL - The United States onThursday announced it is withdrawing about $100 million earmarked for an Afghanenergy project and would withhold another $60 million in planned assistance.
US Secretary of State MikePompeo cited corruption and Afghanistan's 'inability to transparently manage USgovernment resources.
Pompeo said in a statement thatthe US would complete the energy infrastructure project, but would do sothrough another mechanism that does not involve giving the money directly toAfghan authorities.
'Afghan government institutionsand leaders must be transparent and accountable to the Afghan people. We standagainst those who exploit their positions of power and influence to deprive theAfghan people of the benefits of foreign assistance, he said in the statement.
Pompeo said the US will fulfillits commitment to the project, but it will have to use an 'off-budgetmechanism, given 'the Afghan government's inability to transparently manage USGovernment resources.
The withholding of $60 millionis due to a 'lack of transparency surrounding procurement decisions by theNational Procurement Authority, which is 'a great cause for concern.
This may not come as surpriseto many Afghans, who, in the midst of a nationwide power outage, read USAmbassador John Bass' September 18 tweet (which was reported on by Afghanmedia).
'Hearing reports the NationalProcurement Authority won't authorize fuel purchases for the power plantproviding the only electricity in Kabul—even while the US & ResoluteSupport [US/NATO military mission] help Afghan security forces enable repairsto transmission lines. Could this be true?
Then, The Monitoring andEvaluation Committee lost its funding because it is 'incapable of being apartner in the international effort to build a better future for the Afghanpeople.
And a final pledge: 'TheAmerican taxpayers and the Afghan people can count on the United States to actwhen we see assistance funds misused. (Tolo news)
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