US Warns Companies Over Deals With Taliban Administration
The U.S. State Department has warned American companies to exercise extreme caution when considering any business deal with Afghanistan under Taliban rule and to ensure their activities comply with U.S. laws and regulations.
A department spokesman told the media that private companies interested in working in Afghanistan should bear in mind that the Taliban administration remains on the list of “Designated Global Terrorist Groups.” Under the warning, any economic interaction that does not comply with legal restrictions could carry legal and sanctions-related consequences for companies and individuals.
The stance came after a visit to Kabul by Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan. He attended last week’s signing ceremony for an oil and gas agreement between the Saudi company Delta International Energy and the Taliban administration’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, and also met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban administration.
Khalilzad’s presence on the trip drew criticism, given that the United States has not recognized the Taliban administration. Washington said in response that Khalilzad is no longer a U.S. government employee and does not represent the country officially.
The U.S. Treasury Department has also said that U.S. citizens and companies are generally not permitted to conduct transactions, payments, contracts, service provision or financial cooperation with individuals and entities included on the country’s sanctions lists. It added that non-U.S. companies and individuals could also face U.S. sanctions and civil or criminal penalties if they enter into certain transactions with sanctioned groups.
The United States has so far not recognized the Taliban administration, and the country’s sanctions restrictions remain one of the main obstacles to the expansion of official and economic ties with Afghanistan.
