U.S. Treasury OKs Aid for Afghanistan, But Won’t Release Its Assets

Sept. 25, 2021 (EIRNS)—The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced yesterday that it had issued two general licenses to support the continued flow of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan, while at the same time, the OFAC reiterated that it will continue sanctions against the Taliban. Thus, the U.S. maintains its policy under which the Treasury Department continues its Aug. 15 order to withhold $9 billion of Afghanistan’s assets in the U.S.

The OFAC Director Andrea M. Gacki stated yesterday,

“Treasury is committed to facilitating the flow of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and other activities that support their basic human needs. Treasury will continue to work with financial institutions, international organizations, and the nongovernmental organization (NGO) community to ease the flow of critical resources, like agricultural goods, medicine, and other essential supplies, to people in need, while upholding and enforcing our sanctions against the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, and other sanctioned entities.”