ISLAMABAD: A final report by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has revealed that the United States spent $144 billion on reconstruction in Afghanistan over two decades from 2002 to 2021.
The U.S. Inspector General’s final assessment covers the war and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. The report provides a comprehensive breakdown of spending, outcomes, and failures following the U.S.-led intervention and eventual withdrawal. However, millions of Afghans continue to face hunger, unemployment, and economic collapse.
Specifically, the U.S. invested $144 billion in reconstruction projects over 20 years. This spending included infrastructure development, governance programs, the establishment of security forces, and various development initiatives.
In addition to reconstruction, the U.S. expended an estimated $763 billion on military operations in Afghanistan. The total cost exceeded that of the Marshall Plan, which was implemented to rebuild Europe after World War II.
The U.S. invested roughly $90 billion to build a modern Afghan army and security force. Despite this investment, these forces collapsed rapidly following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. The report details that Afghan forces were supplied with 147,000 vehicles, 427,000 weapons, and 162 aircraft. After the fall of Kabul, U.S. forces left behind weapons worth $7.1 billion.
Aid continued even after the Taliban took control. The report states that the U.S. provided $3.83 billion in aid to the Taliban government over four years, while international donors contributed an additional $8.1 billion during this period. Despite this massive international spending, ordinary Afghan citizens continue to suffer from widespread hunger, famine, and unemployment.
The report highlights that corruption and mismanagement within successive Afghan governments severely undermined reconstruction efforts. Funds intended for development often failed to reach the populations most in need.
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