VIDEO: Young Delivers Remarks on Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan at Foreign Relations Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, delivered opening remarks during the Subcommittee’s hearing on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
In his remarks, Senator Young discussed the fallout from the Biden Administration’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan, the resulting Taliban takeover, and how the international community should respond to the humanitarian crisis on the ground today.
“The Taliban takeover of the country in August of last year following our tragic withdrawal and the subsequent economic collapse, as we all recognize, the Taliban has been a specially designated global terrorist groups and since 2002 they are responsible for thousands of casualties of U.S. and NATO service members and countless Afghan civilians during their decades of terror and carnage. The Taliban continues to threaten Afghanistan’s stability and security, and that’s only too apparent now with this terrible crisis upon us.
“The U.S., the U.N. and partners throughout the world have rightly worked to cut off all financial resources from the Taliban, Haqqani network and other terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, imposing sweeping sanctions, travel restrictions and equipment pants. Now we, of course, must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to deny the Taliban any resources, financial or otherwise that can use to conduct further acts of terror. Their worst-case scenario of all would be if humanitarian aid were diverted from legitimate recipients towards the Taliban and its partners in terror.
“This leaves the international community with a terrible dilemma. How do we support everyday Afghans, including many who supported and contributed to U.S. efforts in the country without rewarding, legitimizing or financing the Taliban? How do we verify that humanitarian assistance is getting to the people who need it the most and is not being diverted for the Taliban’s own purposes? Looking beyond this winter, there are broader questions about the long-term sustainability of Afghanistan’s economy. How can a country that dependent on foreign aid for nearly half of its economy now rebuild? We should examine how other strategic competitors are behaving. China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran have no issue dealing directly with the terrorists in Afghanistan. They’ll gladly fill the power vacuum and prop up the Taliban. And they have no longer and they have longer term economic ambitions in the country as well. There are no easy answers in today’s hearing,” said Senator Young during the hearing.
To watch the full hearing, click here.
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