June 26, 2024—Nearly three years into reclaiming its rule over Afghanistan, the Taliban government is raising revenue auctioning mining rights to gems and critical minerals to the highest bidders.
The Islamic Taliban government has struggled economically and diplomatically since it took control of the country in August 2021. But since the beginning, its leaders asserted they have their own sources of income. Notably, the land is rich in gold, gemstones, metals, oil and gas, and minerals.
Mining Rights As Diplomacy
The Financial Times examined 128 contract sites, finding that more than half are developed or expanded. The paper notes that auctioning of mineral and gem rights might help the government form relations with other governments and raise billions of dollars. No country recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, but some countries such as China have formed de facto diplomatic relations.
Afghanistan is still under sanctions by Western countries due to its repressive policies against women and girls. Furthermore, the U.S. government considers the Taliban and the Haqqani Network to be terrorist organizations. The United States organizes humanitarian assistance around those sanctions.
12 Million in Famine
The country is still one of the most impoverished, and a fourth of its population, 12.4 million is facing famine, according to the World Food Programme. Problems in the area have been confounded by floods and a 6.5 earthquake.
