Frequently Asked Questions

The purchases of fuel, payment for telecommunications services, payment for security services, payment of rent, and payment of utilities may be authorized under 14 , 15 , and 19 provided that they are ordinarily incident and necessary to effectuate the activities authorized by the GLs.  As with all… Read more

Yes. GLs  14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ,  19 and 20  help implement recently adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2615 (2021), which authorizes humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs as those terms are understood by the UN Security Council, as… Read more

In July 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced the “future cessation and loss of representativeness” of the ICE Benchmark Administration’s 35 global reference rates, the LIBOR rates.  In light of the discontinuation of LIBOR as a benchmark reference rate, OFAC is… Read more

Yes.  Both U.S. and non-U.S. companies can ship food to Afghanistan, and banks can process financial transfers and other transactions associated with food shipments to Afghanistan. As described in FAQ 930 , U.S. sanctions do not specifically prohibit the exportation or reexportation of agricultural… Read more

As one example, if a non-governmental organization is providing support directly to Afghan hospitals or healthcare workers but needs to sign a memorandum of understanding that involves the Taliban in order to provide such support directly to the Afghan people, this engagement would be authorized… Read more

Yes.  Providing support to public hospitals, such as provision of health services, technical support, and institutional deliveries, as well as payments directly to healthcare workers, that would otherwise be prohibited under the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 594 (GTSR), the… Read more

Yes.  Even to the extent doing so would involve transacting with the Taliban and/or Haqqani Network, NGOs can make salary support or stipend payments directly to healthcare workers, such as doctors at public hospitals or healthcare workers at community clinics, under General License (GL) 14 and GL… Read more

Yes. Support to municipal water systems by NGOs for projects that directly benefit the Afghan people or otherwise relieve human suffering that would otherwise be prohibited under the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 594 (GTSR), the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions… Read more

Yes.  Transactions that are ordinarily incident and necessary to give effect to the activities authorized in General Licenses (GL) 14 , GL 15 , GL 16 , GL 17 , GL 18 , GL 19 , or GL 20 , including clearing, settlement, and transfers through, to, or otherwise involving privately owned and state-… Read more

Yes, cash shipments to Afghanistan may be authorized under General Licenses (GL) 14 , GL 18 ,  GL 19 , or GL 20  provided that they are ordinarily incident and necessary to effectuate the activities authorized by the GLs.   As with all OFAC GLs, GLs 14, 18, 19, and 20 are “self-executing,” meaning… Read more