Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, under the Taliban administration, has announced that it signed 109 mining extraction contracts with domestic companies over the past year. According to the ministry, the total value of these contracts is estimated at approximately 10 billion Afghanis.
In its latest report, the ministry also stated that interest from local companies and investors from regional countries in investing in Afghanistan’s mining sector has increased. The Taliban considers the expansion of this sector one of the ways to boost domestic revenue and strengthen the country’s economy.
However, a number of critics have raised concerns over the transparency of the contracts, the process of awarding mining rights, and the mechanisms for monitoring the extraction of natural resources. They have emphasized the need for strict oversight and transparent management of Afghanistan’s mineral resources.
Afghanistan possesses significant reserves of copper, iron, gold, lithium, chromite, coal, and other minerals. The Taliban views these resources as one of the country’s most important economic assets and a key foundation for future economic growth.
Following the Taliban’s return to power and the decline in foreign aid, the group has sought to increase domestic revenues through customs, taxation, and the exploitation of natural resources. The Taliban says that expanding the mining sector can increase government income, create employment opportunities, and reduce Afghanistan’s economic dependence.
In recent years, the Taliban has signed numerous mining extraction agreements with both domestic and foreign companies. Meanwhile, an assessment based on World Bank reports and figures published by Taliban authorities indicates that the group has collected nearly $14 billion in domestic revenue over the past five years. According to these reports, income generated from the mining sector is considered one of the Taliban’s significant sources of financing.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
