US GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO GLOBAL BANKS TO TRANSFER AID MONEY FOR AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban, which has long been blacklisted by the US as a “terrorist” group, seized power from Afghanistan’s internationally backed government in August. Billions of dollars in Afghan central bank reserves and international development aid were frozen to prevent it from falling into Taliban hands.

International banks have been wary of Afghanistan and the UN and aid groups are struggling to get enough money into the country to fund operations.

The US Treasury said banks can process transactions related to humanitarian operations “including clearing, settlement, and transfers through, to, or otherwise involving privately owned and state-owned Afghan depository institutions”.

It also outlined permitted transactions involving the Taliban, which includes the also blacklisted Haqqani Network. These include signing agreements to provide aid directly to the Afghan people, general aid coordination, including import administration, and sharing of office space.

“Payments of taxes, fees, or import duties to, or the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services from” the Taliban, Haqqani Network or any entity in which they own more than 50 percent is authorized for humanitarian operations, the Treasury said.

Aid organizations are also permitted to ship cash to Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes, as well as provide direct payments to healthcare staff and teachers at public hospitals and schools, according to the statement.