US not providing direct support to IEA: White House

The United States is not providing direct support to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) diplomatically, economically, or in any other way, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday.

Kirby said this in reply to a question by reporters about a US senator introducing a bill asking the US to hold off contribution to the UN for aid to Afghanistan over allegations that it goes to IEA.

“I won’t get ahead, again, of a bill that’s still in its early stages.  I would just tell you that, you know, we haven’t recognized the Taliban (IEA) as the government in Afghanistan.  If they want such recognition, if they want legitimacy, they got to meet their commitments, particularly to women and girls and to human rights in Afghanistan,” Kirby said.

“And we are not providing direct support to them diplomatically, economically, or in any other way.”

On the issue of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghans, Kirby urged the Congress to it by 20,000 visas.

He said that all 7,000 remaining Afghan SIV numbers are going to be exhausted by August of this year.

“Even though our war in Afghanistan ended, our commitment to Afghans and our commitment to those who helped us in that war has not ended.  And we absolutely feel fully committed, and morally so, to do everything we can to get those folks a pathway out of Afghanistan,” Kirby added.