Biden administration is 'indirectly paying a Taliban-controlled airline to help Afghans flee the country after the disastrous withdrawal of troops'
Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime are being flown out on Ariana Afghan Airlines
They travel to Doha in Qatar before being transported on to the U.S.
Without diplomatic relations, the U.S. relies on Qatar to make arrangements
It means U.S. money is going to Taliban-controlled airline, reports NBC News
The U.S. is indirectly paying an airline controlled by the Taliban to fly out Afghans seeking safety, according to a new report, following the chaotic departure of American troops last year.
Washington is committed to helping rescue Afghans who helped U.S. forces or who fear for their lives after working for the former government.
But with no diplomatic representation in the country it is reliant on Qatar, which maintains relations with the Taliban, to make arrangements to fly Afghans out of the country en route to the U.S.
Four sources told NBC News that Qatar is buying plane tickets in bulk from Ariana Afghan Airlines, the country’s state-owned airline.
The airline flies twice a week to Doha, with tickets costing around $480 a seat.
From there, the U.S. arranges onward flights.
Any suggestion that American taxpayers money is going to the Taliban will be embarrassing to the Biden administration, which has refused to recognize the new government in Kabul.
The Taliban suspended refugee flights in January, reportedly angered by the way they were characterized as evacuation flights. But some 2,500 Afghans en route to the U.S. have reportedly flown out since the flights resumed two months ago.
'The United States remains committed to supporting American citizens, lawful permanent residents and our Afghan allies and their families who are eligible to relocate to the United States,' a State Department spokesperson said.
'This is an enduring effort, and the State Department continues to support travel for these individuals out of Afghanistan at this time.'
Refugee advocate say about 160,000 Afghans are trying to resettle in the U.S. because of their previous work.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10901637/Biden-administration-indirectly-paying-Taliban-controlled-airline-help-Afghans-flee.html