Corruption in Afghanistan
| Political corruption |
|---|
 |
| Concepts |
| Corruption by country |
| Europe |
| Asia |
| Africa |
| North America |
| South America |
| Oceania and the Pacific |
| Transcontinental countries |
Corruption in Afghanistan is a widespread and growing problem in Afghan society. Afghanistan ranks 174 from 176 in Transparency International's 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index.[1] (North Korea and Somalia were ranked as equally corrupt.) One of the recent major corrupt cases was the 2010-13 Kabul Bank financial scandal involving Mahmood Karzai and others close to President Hamid Karzai. The Kabul Bank scandal, crisis, investigation and trial involved Sherkhan Farnood, Khalilullah Fruzi, Mohammed Fahim, and other insiders who were allegedly spending the bank's US$1 billion for their own personal lavish style living as well as lending money under the table to family and friends as well as those close to President Hamid Karzai and Mahmood Karzai.[2] As of October 2012, the government only recovered $180 million of the $980 million fraudulent loans.[3]
According to the High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption (HOOAC), corruption is rampant in the north of the country, particularly Balkh Province which borders neighboring Uzbekistan, a country with similar corruption problems as Afghanistan.[1] One of the worst manifestations of graft is illegal land-grabbing. Shamsullah Javed, HOOAC head for the northern zone, in an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, explained that "in Balkh, there are three kinds of encroachment on land: One government department seizing the property of another, security forces occupying government land and individuals taking unlawful possession of people's land." He revealed that 52 out of 60 housing schemes in Balkh were executed illegally. "Government servants, from top to bottom, are involved in the scourge... Some people, whose interests are hurt by investigations into corruption cases, are creating problems for us," Javed said.[4]
Investigative journalist Sibel Edmonds has undertaken efforts as a journalist and whistleblower to raise awareness about corruption in Afghanistan and waste, fraud and abuse involving billions of dollars of U.S. taxpayers' money lost to corruption and corrupt officials in Afghanistan following the U.S. intervention.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index
- ^ Filkins, Dexter (2010-09-02). "Depositors Panic Over Bank Crisis in Afghanistan". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-09-03. Huffman, Michael (2012-06-12). "How They Robbed Kabul Bank".
- ^ Weda Barak, ed. (October 1, 2012). "Problems in recovery of Kabul Bank loans: Delawari". Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
- ^ Zabihullah Ihsas, ed. (October 13, 2012). "Corruption rampant in Balkh: HOOAC". Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
External links[edit]
- Assessment of Corruption in Afghanistan by USAID
- UNODC Bribery and Corruption in Afghanistan Report
- Corruption is Afghanistan's biggest problem as foreign forces prepare to leave
|
||||||||||||||
