WASHINGTON _ The U.S. said it will cut assistance to Afghanistan by $1 billion this year and threatened more cuts could come as a breakdown in talks to form a unity government threatened to derail a U.S.-engineered peace deal.
Hours after departing Kabul on Monday, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement that the U.S. "deeply regrets" the failure of President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to form a unity government. He said the U.S. is imposing the $1 billion cut in assistance because of the breakdown, which dates from disputed national elections late last year.
"Their failure has harmed U.S.-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonors those Afghan, Americans and Coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country," Pompeo said. He added the U.S. could cut assistance by another $1 billion in 2021.
The failure of the Afghan leaders to broker an agreement imperils a peace deal reached between the U.S. and the Taliban last month to bring an end to what has become America's longest war. The deal reached in Doha was expected to lead to talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban starting around March 10, a deadline that has already passed.
