U.S. government funds allocated outwardly to aid and promote business in Afghanistan have gone into Taliban hands under a $2.16 billion transportation contract, according to The Washington Post.

Giving the results of a year-long military-led investigation, the newspaper informed U.S. and Afghan efforts to address the problem have been a slow process, and all eight of the trucking firms involved in the transport of the aid remain on U.S. payroll. The report added alsı the fact, that the Pentagon extended the contract for six months March 2012.

Taliban uses Us Money for Weapons

The investigation discovered ”significant and cogent evidence of involvement in a criminal enterprise or support for the enemy” by four of the eight prime contractors. According to the newspaper a $7.4 million payment to one of the eight companies was under constant investigation,a subcontractor got paid at the end, which hired other subcontractors to supply trucks.

Intelligence officials were then able to trace another $3.3 million, withdrawn in total 27 transactions from the commander’s account, which was transferred to Afghan insurgents in the form of weapons, explosives and cash.

Meanwhile Ryan Crocker, the new U.S. ambassador in Afghanistan from this Monday on, states that the U.S. is not speeding up the withdrawal action from Afghanistan and eloborates that what happens in the months ahead will have far-reaching consequences across the world. “When It is a time for us to step back then it means for the Afghans to step forward, as they’re doing. There can be no clearer evidence than last week’s successful security transition,” he mentioned.

Nato : Afghanistan War – New Casualties

NATO forces indicate that one of their helicopters has crashed in eastern Afghanistan. NATO informed rescue forces arrived the crash site under fire from insurgents but had safely moved all crew and passengers unhatrmed to a nearby base by early morning. An Italian soldier meanwhile was killed and two others injured on Monday during an operation in Afghanistan, the military said.The soldier, the forty-first victim since the beginning of the mission, was killed in an attack north-west of Bala Murghab in the west of the country. Two more soldiers, both paratroopers like the man who died, were injured.

 

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