Emerald Mining Begins at 30 New Sites in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Province
The Taliban-run Directorate of Mines and Petroleum in Panjshir has announced that emerald mining operations have officially commenced at 30 newly identified sites in the Pariyan and Hesa-ye Awal districts of the province.
These mines are part of 270 newly discovered sites in the areas of Khenj, Dasht-e Riyot, Safed Cheher in Hesa-ye Awal district, and Arib in Pariyan district. According to officials from the Taliban administration, the sites were identified by a technical team from the directorate.
Maulavi Mohammad Qasim Amiri, head of Panjshir’s Directorate of Mines and Petroleum, told Bakhtar News Agency that the mining activities are being carried out under official licenses and are operated by local residents.
He added that more than 600 people from the local communities have so far received licenses to work as emerald miners in the province.
While the exploitation of natural resources could significantly improve the economic conditions of underdeveloped regions, concerns have been raised over the lack of transparency, unprofessional management, and the Taliban administration’s politicized use of natural assets. Serious questions remain unanswered regarding the licensing process, revenue management, and the actual benefits for local communities.
Panjshir, a mountainous province rich in mineral resources, has long been known for its emerald deposits. However, the recent surge in extraction under Taliban control—absent of transparency and equitable governance—risks undermining local rights and facilitating political exploitation of Afghanistan’s natural wealth.
