Millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars have been wasted in Afghanistan, according to a new watchdog inspection of 44 construction projects undertaken between 2009 and 2015, raising questions about the ability of the local government and its U.S. patrons to sustain rebuilding the war-torn country’s infrastructure. Of the projects totalling $1.1 billion in Defense Department spending examined by the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, two-thirds did not meet the requirements of the contract or technical specifications, one-third were structurally unsound or hazardous to the occupants, and a quarter were delayed for months, including one more than two and half years over schedule.



Seven of the completed projects had never been used by their intended Afghan occupants.

The latest report from the congressionally mandated watchdog comes ahead of testimony by the inspector general himself, John Sopko, before Congress on Wednesday. And it follows years of reports from his office that detail a lack of oversight by defense officials for U.S.-funded projects in Afghanistan, and an inability by the Afghans to maintain these facilities.

The deterioration of security in Afghanistan following the U.S. drawdown and a resurgence by Taliban fighters has further complicated the inspectors’ efforts. “Significant portions” of Afghanistan have become inaccessible to the office, as the U.S.-led presence there shrinks down to four major bases in accordance with President Barack Obama’s plan to end the war. Even access to projects within Kabul, the capital city, has been limited due to security concerns, the office says.

It remains unclear how, or even if, the Afghan government and its national security forces will be able to take responsibility for the facilities the U.S. is paying for. Until then, the SIGAR office warns, American taxpayers will have to continue paying for the Defense Department projects.

For example, the U.S. spent almost $3 million on a 23,000-square-foot cold- and dry-storage facility in Gereshk, Helmand province, which was constructed properly and completed in 2013. The Defense Department task force overseeing the project came up short, however, in one key element to the project’s success: finding an Afghan business to operate and maintain it.

A juice company, Omaid Bahar Ltd., was interested in expanding into Helmand province and was approved by the task force, the report states, but damage to its existing facility in Kabul undermined its plans. Other investors told the task force they couldn’t lease the property without paying more money to the local Afghan district governor, so the search for an occupant continues.



In another case, the Bathkhak School built near Kabul was supposed to be one single-story, 10-classroom building with a wooden roof, due to concerns of seismic activity in the area. The contractor, however, without authorization built two five-classroom buildings with concrete roofs, among other signs of shoddy construction. The school remains incomplete, and also has never been used.

Despite these reports, the inspector general is optimistic about the future and points to two signs that the situation on the ground may change: The Defense Department has implemented almost 80 percent of the recommendations the agency has made, and the government in Afghanistan under the leadership of President Ashraf Ghani has pledged to fight corruption – an endemic issue across all federal offices and ranks considered the key contributor to the government’s woes.

“While SIGAR continues to uncover failures leading to gross waste and abuse, we do have partners in both Resolute Support and the Afghan government who appear willing to address these issues,” Sopko said in an email to U.S. News, referencing the name of the U.S. military operation for Afghanistan. “There is still much to be done and taxpayer funds are at grave risk, but with willing partners I am hopeful that things will improve.”



