Financial Sanctions List in Afghanistan Remains Limited Compared to Other Countries

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has implemented comprehensive sanctions programs targeting several countries, including North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, and regions in Ukraine. In contrast, there are no similar restrictions on Afghanistan. This lack of sanctions creates a unique situation where US persons can export or reexport goods and services to Afghanistan without restrictions, provided that the transactions do not involve sanctioned individuals, entities, or property with an interest.

Sanctions on Certain Individuals and Entities

While there is no comprehensive sanctions program targeting Afghanistan, certain individuals and entities are listed on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list (SDN List). These include:

• The Taliban, designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224
• The Haqqani Network, listed as an SDGT under the same order and also as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act

General Licenses

In addition to the SDN List, OFAC has issued General Licenses (GLs) 14 through 20 under various sanctions regulations. These licenses provide authorizations for specific activities related to Afghanistan, including:

• The Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations
• The Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations

Humanitarian Assistance and Guidance

For a consolidated list of relevant GLs and frequently asked questions, US persons can refer to OFAC’s humanitarian fact sheet on providing assistance to Afghanistan and supporting the Afghan people. This resource provides an overview of authorizations and guidance related to US sanctions on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network.

Date

February 25, 2022