Mike Pompeo says US will cut $1bn of Afghanistan aid over failure to agree unity government

The US has said it will cut its aid to Afghanistan by $1bn, after President Ashraf Ghani and his main political rival, Abdullah Abdullah failed to agree to form a unity government for talks with the Taliban.

A further $1bn could be cut in 2021, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said after a surprise visit to Kabul on Monday failed to persuade the two men to make a deal. Pompeo suggested the aid could be restored if they changed their minds.

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“The United States is disappointed in them and what their conduct means for Afghanistan and our shared interests,” Pompeo said in a sharply written statement.

“Their failure has harmed US-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonours those Afghan, Americans, and coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country.

“Because this leadership failure poses a direct threat to US national interests, effective immediately the US government will initiate a review of the scope of our cooperation with Afghanistan,” Pompeo added.

“Among other steps, we are today announcing a responsible adjustment to our spending in Afghanistan and immediately reducing assistance by $1 billion this year. We are prepared to reduce by another $1 billion in 2021.”

The secretary of state warned that an array of other US projects, as well as US pledges at donor conferences, would come under review.