What are examples of activities authorized by Afghanistan-related General License (GL) 20, “Authorizing Transactions Involving Afghanistan or Governing Institutions in Afghanistan”?
OFAC's answer
Transactions that are generally authorized by [GL 20](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/918776/download?inline) to the extent authorization is required include: - Commercial transactions involving Afghanistan, including imports from Afghanistan, exports to Afghanistan, and commercial transactions within or involving the geographical territory of Afghanistan; - Dealings with all governing ministries and institutions in Afghanistan—including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Energy and Water, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of the Interior, and Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations, and the Central Bank of Afghanistan (DAB); - Dealings with state-owned or -controlled companies and enterprises in Afghanistan, including the electrical utility Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS); - 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; - Financial institutions’ processing of transactions to, from, or transiting Afghanistan, including clearing, settlement, and transfers through, to, or otherwise involving privately owned and state-owned Afghan banks; - Financial and professional services related to economic activity in Afghanistan; - Activities related to infrastructure maintenance or development in Afghanistan, including water, sanitation, energy, electricity, and public utilities; - Activities related to the development, maintenance, and operation of civilian transportation in Afghanistan, including safety and maintenance operations for civilian transportation in Afghanistan, including air traffic services, air navigation services, other transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to operations or use of airports, ground and landside operations, and rail or road construction or maintenance; - Transactions with respect to the receipt and transmission of telecommunications, mail, or parcels involving Afghanistan; - Importation from and exportation to Afghanistan of any information or informational materials; - Transactions ordinarily incident to travel to or from Afghanistan; - Transactions that are also authorized under Afghanistan-related GLs [14](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/912996/download?inline), [15](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/913001/download?inline), [16](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/915126/download?inline), [17](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/917126/download?inline), [18](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/917131/download?inline) and [19](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/917136/download?inline) (for more information, see FAQs [928](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/928), [929](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/929), [930](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/930), [931](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/931), [949](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/949), [951](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/951), [953](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/953), [954](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/954), [957](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/957), [958](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/958), [959](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/959), [960](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/960), [961](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/961), [962](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/962), [963](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/963), and [996](https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/996)); and - Incidental contact with the Taliban or the Haqqani Network or any blocked individual who is currently in a leadership role in a governing institution in Afghanistan in connection with any of the authorized activities outlined above. Nothing in GL 20 relieves any person from compliance with any other federal laws or requirements of other federal agencies, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) administered by the Department of State and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) administered by the Department of Commerce, or from applicable international obligations. GL 20 does not authorize 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 to 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 or financial transfers, provided that such payments do not relate to luxury items or services. GL 20 also does not authorize transfers of luxury items or services 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.
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Related FAQs
- #928Do U.S. sanctions on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network prohibit the provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan?
- #929For the purposes of Afghanistan-related General License (GL) 14, what is "humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan" or "other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan"?
- #930Do U.S. sanctions on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network prohibit the exportation or reexportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Afghanistan?
- #931Do non-U.S. persons risk exposure to U.S. sanctions for engaging in transactions that U.S. persons would be authorized to engage in under Afghanistan-related General Licenses (GLs) 14, 15, 16, or 20?
- #949Do sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network prohibit the sending of personal remittances to Afghanistan?
- #951Is Afghanistan subject to comprehensive sanctions?
- #953Do U.S. sanctions on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network prohibit moving or sending money into or out of Afghanistan? Do U.S. sanctions prohibit or require a particular method of payment for moving or sending money into or out of Afghanistan?
- #954Are purchases of fuel, payment for telecommunications services, payment for security services, payment of rent, and payment of utilities by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) considered ordinarily incident and necessary to authorized activities under Afghanistan-related General Licenses (GLs) 14, 15, and 19? Are such transactions covered by Afghanistan-related GL 20?
- #957Can non-U.S. companies ship food and agricultural products to Afghanistan? Can banks process these transactions?
- #958What are examples of transactions involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network that are authorized under Afghanistan-related General Licenses (GLs) 14 and 19? Are such transactions covered by Afghanistan-related GL 20?
- #959Is support to public hospitals in Afghanistan (e.g., health services, facilities maintenance, and health worker salaries) by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) considered ordinarily incident and necessary to authorized activities under Afghanistan-related General Licenses (GLs) 14, 15, and 19? Are such transactions covered by Afghanistan-related GL 20?
- #960Can nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations (IOs) make salary support or stipend payments directly to Afghan teachers and healthcare workers?
- #961Can nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations (IOs) provide support to municipal water systems?
- #962Can banks process transactions related to activities authorized by General Licenses (GLs) 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20?
- #963Can humanitarian organizations ship cash into Afghanistan for use in delivering humanitarian assistance?
- #996In light of the issuance of Afghanistan-related General License (GL) 20, are U.S. persons still required to abide by the narrower scope of Afghanistan-related GLs 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19?