HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases...Additional General License Involving Afghanistan or Governing Institutions in Afghanistan hide Additional General License Involving Afghanistan or Governing Institutions in Afghanistan Press Statement Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State February 25, 2022 The United States took action today to facilitate a broad range of commercial activity in Afghanistan that will benefit the Afghan people. General License 20 and related updated FAQs and new FAQs clarify that financial institutions, nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, and private sector companies can engage in wide-ranging transactions and activities in Afghanistan while complying with U.S. sanctions. The affected sectors include personal and commercial banking, infrastructure development and maintenance, commercial trade, safety and maintenance operations for transportation systems, and telecommunications and information transactions. To be clear, sanctions on the Taliban remain in place. Today’s action facilitates private companies and aid organizations working with Afghan governing institutions and paying customs, duties, fees, and taxes, including institutions that are headed by sanctioned individuals. We stand with the people of Afghanistan as they work to rebuild their economy. Tags Afghanistan Bureau of Counterterrorism Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions Human Rights Office of the Spokesperson Sanctions The Secretary of State Taliban