Sullivan indicates U.S. could provide economic aid to Taliban

August 31, 2021 Carley Joanou US 0

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan talks to reporters during the daily news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 3:46 PM PT – Tuesday, August 31, 2021

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan affirmed the Biden administration would seek to help the Afghan people and indicated the possibility of economically assisting the Taliban. During an interview on Tuesday, Sullivan said the U.S. intended to continue providing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, but claimed it wouldn’t go through the Taliban.

Sullivan added the U.S. would provide humanitarian assistance through the World Health Organization, World Food Bank and other non-governmental institutions.

Lifesaving medical supplies were successfully airlifted into Afghanistan on Monday, says @WHO.

This first shipment to arrive in more than a week will replenish health facilities’ reserves & help ensure the continuation of services. https://t.co/5f91f4IPef pic.twitter.com/h8KMD1moc6

— United Nations (@UN) August 30, 2021

In term of helping Afghanistan economically, Sullivan suggested the Taliban could get aide from the U.S. if it were to meet certain conditions.

“It will be about whether they follow through on their commitments, their commitments to safe passage for Americans and Afghan allies, their commitment to not allow Afghanistan to be a base from which terrorists can attack the United States or any other countries,” he explained. “…It’s going to be up to them and we will wait and see by their actions how we end up responding.”

Sullivan claimed the U.S. held leverage over the Taliban in regard to assuring Americans still in Afghanistan would be able to leave.