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U.S. grants licenses for more aid flow to Afghanistan
The United States on Friday further paved the way for aid to flow to Afghanistan despite U.S. sanctions on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), issuing general licenses amid concerns that Washington’s punitive measures could compound an unfolding humanitarian crisis.
The U.S. Treasury Department said it issued two general licenses, one allowing the U.S. government, NGOs and certain international organizations, including the United Nations, to engage in transactions with the IEA or Haqqani Network – both under sanctions – that are necessary to provide humanitarian assistance.
The second license authorizes certain transactions related to the export and re-export of food, medicine and other items.
“Treasury is committed to facilitating the flow of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and other activities that support their basic human needs,” Andrea Gacki, director of the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in the statement.
She added that Washington will continue to work with financial institutions, NGOs and international organizations to ease the flow of agricultural goods, medicine and other resources while upholding sanctions on the IEA, Haqqani Network and others.
The United Nations said that at the start of the year more than 18 million people – about half of Afghanistan’s population – require aid amid the second drought in four years.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that Afghanistan is on “the verge of a dramatic humanitarian disaster” and has decided to engage the IEA in order to help the country’s people.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has said it is committed to allowing humanitarian work in Afghanistan to continue despite Washington listing the IEA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.
The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets of the IEA and bar Americans from dealing with them, including the contribution of funds, goods or services.
The licenses allow NGOs and foreign financial institutions to continue humanitarian assistance such as the delivery of food, shelter, medicine and medical services, including COVID-19 assistance, a Treasury spokesperson said.
“We have not reduced sanctions pressure on Taliban (IEA) leaders or the significant restrictions on their access to the international financial system,” the spokesperson said.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Minister of Interior Affairs, met on Tuesday with Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative to Kabul.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the two sides discussed enhancing cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia, along with security, economic, and political issues.
They also exchanged views on positive engagement and regional stability.
The Pakistani military regime has carried out rocket attacks in Khas Kunar district of Kunar province, with rockets hitting civilian homes.
Security officials in Kunar said on Tuesday evening the attacks have continued intermittently since early morning, but so far no information has been provided by authorities regarding casualties.
The Pakistani military regime has also carried out rocket attacks on some areas of Sarkano district in Kunar. Early reports indicate there have been no casualties in these strikes.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met on Tuesday with Russia’s special envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov in Kabul, where the two sides discussed expanding political ties and deepening economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to a statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both officials emphasized the importance of further strengthening bilateral engagement and broadening cooperation across multiple sectors.
Muttaqi welcomed what he described as the positive development of relations between Afghanistan and Russia, and called for increased economic collaboration, the reactivation of the Joint Economic Commission, and the creation of a regular mechanism for political consultations.
The discussions also covered regional developments, with both sides stressing the importance of peace, stability and security. They exchanged views on enhancing relations with neighboring countries and highlighted the need for joint efforts to support constructive regional engagement.
Kabulov praised the current trajectory of ties between Kabul and Moscow and said Russia is prepared to expand practical cooperation with Afghanistan, particularly in the fields of trade, energy and transit.
He added that Moscow is interested in strengthening bilateral relations through joint economic projects, investment initiatives and infrastructure cooperation, while also promoting regional connectivity and long-term stability.
The meeting comes amid growing diplomatic engagement between the two countries as both sides seek to expand economic opportunities and strengthen regional partnerships.
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