Pentagon: US Transport Funds End Up in Taliban Hands

VOA Breaking News
July 25, 2011 at 8:15 pm

The U.S. Defense Department says some of the money from its multi-billion-dollar U.S. transportation contract in Afghanistan has been ending up in the hands of the Taliban.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan said Monday the finding was made by a U.S. task force set up in Kabul last year to overhaul the contract process.

Lapan said the finding is consistent with a congressional report last year that said tens of millions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer funds are indirectly paid to Afghan warlords, public officials and even the Taliban to ensure safe passage of U.S. supply convoys.

At issue is the $2.16 billion Afghan Host Nation Trucking contract, which delivers 70 percent of all goods and services to U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Lapan said the U.S. military is working on a new trucking contract to ensure greater transparency and to better oversee contractors.