WASHINGTON: Three general licenses issued this week by the US Treasury allow US government officials and international agencies to conduct “official business” with the Taliban and the Haqqani network.
An official statement issued by the Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) explains how this “official business” may be conducted.
“The General License 17 authorizes all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network to conduct official business of the US government by employees, grantees or contractors, subject to certain conditions.
“General License 18 authorizes all transactions and activities involving Taliban or Haqqani networks for the conduct of official business by employees, grantees or contractors of certain international organizations and other international entities, subject to certain conditions.
“The General License 19 authorizes all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani network that are normally incidental to and necessary for the following activities by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), subject to certain conditions.”
The terms are explained as aiding “humanitarian projects to meet basic humanitarian needs”; Activities to support the rule of law, citizen participation, government accountability and transparency.
Organizations dealing with “human rights and fundamental freedoms, access to information, and civil society development projects” are also permitted to receive aid from the US and other sources.
The exemption also applies to “education”; non-commercial development projects directly benefiting the Afghan people; and environmental and natural resource conservation”.
Earlier this week, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution Facilitating the supply of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
The resolution allowed “the payment of money, other financial assets or economic resources, and the provision of goods and services necessary to ensure the timely delivery of such assistance or to support such activities”.
Later, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reminded reporters at a briefing that it was the United States that drafted the resolution. He said the proposal had its own mechanism for filtering pledged aid because it “requests periodic updates by the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator to ensure that aid reaches the intended beneficiaries.” ,
Following the Taliban takeover on 15 August, the international community sealed off Afghanistan’s assets to ensure that the Taliban did not use the funds, bringing the Afghan economy close to collapse. UN resolutions and exemptions are intended to prevent a possible collapse.
United States of america seal Afghan assets stood at about $9.5 billion in August, but it is unclear whether the exemption will eventually release these frozen assets as well.
However, Republican lawmakers have warned that the move risks legalizing funding to Taliban leaders as they will be the ultimate beneficiaries.
Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2021