WASHINGTON — The State Department said Thursday that an investigation has begun into whether U.S. development funding for Afghanistan is being diverted to local warlords and extremists following allegations that road and bridge contractors were paying "protection" money to the Taliban.
Spokesman P.J. Crowley said the U.S. Agency for International Development is looking into reports that some funds may be being going to the Taliban and others as part of a larger probe into other diversions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in Afghanistan. He stressed that no diversions have been confirmed.
"Obviously, we want to see the aid that is flowing into Afghanistan move towards constructively improving the security situation, the economic situation in Afghanistan," he told reporters. "Any diversion of funds for any reason makes it that much more difficult for us to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan."
His comments came in response to a question about a report in the Web-based publication Global Post that cited allegations that USAID money for road and bridge construction in Afghanistan was being siphoned off by contractors to pay members of the Taliban not to attack specific projects and workers.
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