Judge who blocked release of Trump report was ‘plainly’ wrong, special counsel tells appeals court

WASHINGTON: The watchdog for US assistance to Afghanistan said the Taliban have no legal right to billions of dollars in funding set aside for the country because they are not recognized as its government and are under sanctions.
In its latest report issued Friday, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, also said President Donald Trump’s administration and Congress may want to examine returning nearly $4 billion earmarked for Afghanistan to the “custody and control” of the US government.
In 2022, the US transferred $3.5 billion in Afghan central bank assets previously frozen in America to the Swiss-based Fund for the Afghan People. The fund has grown to nearly $4 billion since then, according to the inspector general.
Although no payments benefiting Afghans have been made, the fund is aimed at protecting and stabilizing the economy on their behalf.
“The Taliban want these funds even though they have no legal right to them since they are not recognized by the United States as the government of Afghanistan, are on the US Specially Designated Global Terrorist list, and are under US and UN sanctions,” the report said.
Responding to the report Saturday, the Afghan Economy Ministry said more than $9 billion of Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves had been frozen and warned that any US action regarding the allocation, use or transfer of these reserves was unacceptable.
It urged the international community to return the money to the central bank to ensure the country’s stability.
The ministry also said that US expenditure had made no significant impact on the Afghan economy.
The SIGAR report follows Trump’s decision to freeze foreign aid for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether projects align with his policy goals.
According to the report, the US has spent nearly $3.71 billion in Afghanistan since withdrawing from the country in 2021. Most of that has gone to UN agencies.
Another $1.2 billion remains available in the pipeline for possible disbursement, the report said.
US humanitarian assistance may have “staved off famine” in the face of economic collapse, but it has not dissuaded the Taliban from taking Americans hostage, dismantling the rights of women and girls, censoring the media, allowing the country to become a “terrorist safe haven,” and targeting former Afghan government officials, added the watchdog.
The US remains the largest donor to Afghanistan, but the report said a lot of the money is taxed or diverted.
“The further the cash gets away from the source, the less transparency there is,” Chris Borgeson, the deputy inspector general for audits and inspections at the watchdog, told The Associated Press last August.

DHAKA: The Bangladeshi government says it is preparing to send skilled and semi-skilled workers to Saudi Arabia to assist with development projects ahead of international events to be hosted by the Kingdom, including the FIFA World Cup, the Asian Winter Games, and Expo 2030.

Adviser Asif Nazrul, who heads Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, visited Riyadh this week to meet with Saudi authorities and discuss the welfare and presence of Bangladeshi expats in the Kingdom’s labor market. He also met with representatives of leading Saudi companies and recruitment agencies.

“The meetings concluded that Bangladesh can supply more skilled and semi-skilled migrants to the Kingdom to support the implementation of Vision 2030 and the successful hosting of various upcoming international events,” Mohammad Shahed Anowar, deputy secretary at the ministry, told Arab News.

“In the Kingdom, there is good demand for our construction workers, including plumbers, pipe fitters, welders, electricians, AC mechanics and so on.”

Around 3 million Bangladeshi nationals live and work in Saudi Arabia. They are the largest expat group in the Kingdom and the largest Bangladeshi community outside Bangladesh. Many are employed in the construction sector and more are likely to find jobs in the industry in the next few years, as the country prepares to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, the Asian Winter Games in 2029, the World Expo in 2030, and the FIFA World Cup in 2034.

The World Cup alone will offer numerous opportunities for migrant workers to help build 15 stadiums in five cities, as well as transport networks and hotel infrastructure.

“These events will require new construction work, and we can supply the skilled and semi-skilled workforce needed for these projects,” Anowar said.

“To meet the demands of Saudi employers, we are focusing on preparing more skilled workers. Our Technical Training Centers are well-equipped for this purpose. We invite Saudi employers to visit the centers and see the preparations firsthand. We are also collaborating with the Saudi agency Takamol, which certifies workers’ skills according to Saudi standards and requirements. We can dedicate specific TTCs to ensure the Kingdom can easily source skilled migrants from these centers.”

During the overseas employment adviser’s visit, the Bangladeshi embassy in Riyadh launched the E-Demand Attestation system, allowing Saudi companies to register online and attest worker demand letters remotely.

“The E-Demand Attestation system will make worker recruitment more transparent and reduce lead time for sending migrants from Bangladesh. Employers can submit their recruitment requisitions online, eliminating the need to visit the embassy. Our Labor Wing officials at the embassy will review the requisition and expedite the recruitment process accordingly,” Anowar said.

“The system will streamline the recruitment process, making it hassle-free and transparent for both employers and migrants.”