Treasury Department must maintain, expand sanctions against Taliban, says McCaul

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) led fellow Republican members on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee in urging the U.S. Treasury Department to maintain and expand America’s current sanctions framework against the Taliban and associated forces.

“The Taliban is yet again primed to grant al Qaeda sufficient safe harbor within Afghanistan to rebuild strength and fulfill their intent to launch attacks on the U.S. homeland,” the lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 3 letter sent to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. “Despite the public statements that have been made, we urge you and the rest of the Biden administration to maintain a very healthy dose of skepticism about what the Taliban’s intentions and abilities are.”

Among the House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans who joined committee Ranking Member McCaul in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Brian Mast (R-FL), Andy Barr (R-KY), and Young Kim (R-CA).

The GOP members pointed out that Americans “are in grave danger throughout Afghanistan,” and a massive refugee crisis continues to grow as people flee Taliban rule. “The direness of the situation cannot be overstated, and we cannot give up our single most effective point of leverage,” Rep. McCaul and his committee colleagues wrote.

Such leverage, they noted, must be used to help secure the evacuation of United States citizens, allies and Afghan partners, and to “prevent another atrocity on American shores like the tragic attacks on 9/11,” they wrote.

“We believe it necessary for the Treasury Department to maintain and potentially expand its current sanctions efforts targeting Taliban forces, leaders and the third-party entities that fund them,” wrote Rep. McCaul and his colleagues. “It is imperative that no sanctions against the Taliban are lifted to ensure our national security and the security of our citizens and partners is protected.”