On Wednesday, the United States (US) Office of Foreign Assets Control issued three licenses that would allow American and international agencies to conduct “official business” with the Taliban, paving the way for these institutions to send aid to Afghanistan and ease its grave humanitarian crisis.
According to a press release by the Treasury Department, the licenses will “facilitate the continued flow of humanitarian assistance and other support for the Afghan people.” The statement acknowledged that the economic crisis in the war-torn country had been caused by a severe drought, structural macroeconomic issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and, most importantly, the Taliban’s takeover. The statement added that the issuance of licenses highlights the US’ commitment to the Afghan people and its longstanding commitment to humanitarian aid despite sanctions.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said that the “broad authorisations” ensure that “NGOs, international organisations, and the US government can continue to provide relief to those in need.” The three licenses issued are General Licence 17, General Licence 18, and General Licence 19. Read together, they authorise “transactions and activities” with the Taliban and the Haqqani network that are a part of “official business” conducted by the US government, international organisations, and NGOs.
However, the press release confirmed that these transactions and activities should not involve “sanctioned individuals, entities, or property in which sanctioned individuals and entities have an interest.” The licenses also do not authorise financial transfers to the Taliban and the Haqqani network, except those related to “payment of taxes, fees, or import duties, or the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services related to the activities specified.”
The statement also referred to the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution unanimously adopted on Wednesday. The resolution created an exception to the UN 1988 sanctions regime to allow expeditious aid delivery to Afghanistan. Consequently, the international organisation will now provide Afghans with essential life-saving medicines, essential services, and social investments. The resolution further mandates periodic updates to ensure that the relief is provided to the intended beneficiaries. According to the US statement, the resolution was implemented with the help of these licenses.
The latest development is a sign of relief for the Afghan people, whose woes have been compounded by the lack of foreign aid, which accounts for over 80% of Afghanistan’s budget. However, there are concerns that the aid will be hijacked by the Taliban and will not reach the people in need of the assistance.
According to several estimates by the UN bodies, Afghanistan is currently on the brink of a crisis, with millions of Afghans facing hunger during the winter. The United Nations’ World Food Programme said that 22.8 million out of the 38 million Afghans currently face acute food shortages. It also reported an increase in the rate of malnutrition in the country.