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995. Does Afghanistan-related General License (GL) 20 authorize financial transfers to governing institutions in Afghanistan, including the Central Bank of Afghanistan (Da Afghanistan Bank, or DAB), or state-owned or -controlled companies and enterprises in Afghanistan?  Does Afghanistan-related GL 20 authorize receipt of payment from governing institutions in Afghanistan and state-owned or -controlled companies and enterprises in Afghanistan?    

Answer

Yes.  To the extent authorization is required, GL 20  authorizes financial transfers to or involving all governing institutions in Afghanistan — including but not limited to the DAB, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Energy and Water, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, and Ministry of Public Health — or to or involving state-owned or -controlled companies and enterprises in Afghanistan, including Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), provided there are no financial transfers to the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, any entity in which the Taliban or the Haqqani Network owns, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, a 50 percent or greater interest, or any blocked individual who is in a leadership role of a governing institution in Afghanistan, other than for the purpose of effecting the payment of taxes, fees, or import duties, or the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services, provided that such payments do not relate to luxury items or services.  GL 20 also authorizes receipt of payment from such governing institutions and state-owned or -controlled companies and enterprises in Afghanistan.

OFAC does not view financial transfers to governing institutions in Afghanistan or state-owned or -controlled companies and enterprises in Afghanistan as financial transfers to the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, any entity in which the Taliban or the Haqqani Network owns, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, a 50 percent or greater interest, or any blocked individual who is in a leadership role of a governing institution in Afghanistan.  

Nothing in GL 20 affects the property or interests in property of Da Afghanistan Bank that are protectively blocked pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14064 of February 11, 2022, “Protecting Certain Property of Da Afghanistan Bank for the Benefit of the People of Afghanistan.”
 

Date Released
February 25, 2022