The US Department of Treasury on Wednesday issued three General Licenses to facilitate the continued flow of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan from the international community and international organizations amid severe economic challenges in Afghanistan.

This creates a way for international donors to work around US sanctions against the "Taliban or Haqqani Network" if certain conditions are met.

The Treasury Department said the new licenses are part of US efforts to help the people of Afghanistan, and emphasized that the authorization of the new and previous licenses allows the flow of humanitarian assistance, personal remittances, and other support to flow to the people of Afghanistan.

“The United States is the largest single provider of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. We are committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan, which is why Treasury is taking these additional steps to facilitate assistance,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “Unfortunately, the economy faces grave challenges, exacerbated by the country’s long dependence on foreign aid, donor and private sector flight sparked by the Taliban’s takeover, drought, structural macroeconomic issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Treasury has provided broad authorizations that ensure NGOs, international organizations, and the US government can continue to provide relief to those in need.”

The new General Licenses, 17, 18, 19, authorize transactions and activities involving the Taliban.

“General License 17 authorizes all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network that are for the conduct of the official business of the United States Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof, subject to certain conditions,” the Treasury Department said.

“General License 18 authorizes all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network that are for the conduct of the official business of certain international organizations and other international entities by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof, subject to certain conditions,” the department said.

“General License 19 authorizes all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the following activities by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), subject to certain conditions: humanitarian projects to meet basic human needs; activities to support rule of law, citizen participation, government accountability and transparency, human rights and fundamental freedoms, access to information, and civil society development projects; education; non-commercial development projects directly benefitting the Afghan people; and environmental and natural resource protection,” the department said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the move on Twitter, saying the US is committed to providing support to the people of Afghanistan. "The US is working tirelessly with the international community to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance and other essential support to the people of Afghanistan. Today US Treasury Department issued three General Licenses to enable broader support for the country’s most vulnerable,” he tweeted.