Washington Warns US Companies Over Business Deals With Taliban

DID Press: US State Department has warned American companies to exercise “extreme caution” when conducting business with Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

An unnamed State Department spokesperson told Radio Free Afghanistan that U.S. private companies seeking to conduct business in Afghanistan must ensure their transactions comply with applicable U.S. laws and regulations.

The warning comes after a visit to Kabul by Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special representative for Afghanistan. Khalilzad attended a Sept. 7 signing ceremony in Kabul for an oil and gas agreement between a Saudi energy company and Taliban authorities and also met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister. U.S. officials have emphasized that Khalilzad was acting in a personal capacity and does not represent the U.S. government.

The U.S. Treasury Department has stated that U.S. citizens and companies are generally prohibited from conducting transactions, making payments, entering into contracts, providing services or engaging in financial cooperation with individuals and entities designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). The Taliban remains designated as an SDGT under U.S. sanctions.

The Treasury Department has also warned that non-U.S. individuals and companies may face U.S. sanctions and civil or criminal penalties for certain transactions involving entities subject to U.S. sanctions. At the same time, U.S. sanctions do not amount to comprehensive sanctions on Afghanistan as a whole; certain transactions are permitted under applicable exemptions and general licenses.

Washington’s position comes as the Taliban seeks to attract foreign investment and expand economic cooperation with regional countries and international companies. In recent days, a Saudi company signed an oil and gas exploration agreement with Taliban authorities in Kabul in the presence of Khalilzad.