Taliban Authorities Announce Discovery of Significant Gold Reserves in Panjshir

Taliban local authorities in Panjshir province have announced that, based on preliminary investigations, substantial gold reserves have been identified in the Paryan district of the province. According to them, these reserves are estimated to span an area of about 30 kilometers and are considered economically significant.

Local Taliban officials stated that if extraction begins, these mines could create new job opportunities and contribute to economic growth. However, technical details regarding the exact volume of the reserves and the methods of their assessment have not yet been made public.

Hafiz Mohammad Agha Hakim, the Taliban-appointed governor of Panjshir, welcomed the findings and emphasized that extraction should be conducted in a standard, legal, and phased manner. He added that all activities must be carried out under the supervision and coordination of the Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.

This announcement comes amid recent warnings from some mining experts about unprofessional and non-transparent natural resource extraction in the country. They stress that the lack of independent oversight and clear frameworks could lead to the loss of national assets and environmental damage in mining areas—a matter for which the Taliban administration is expected to be held accountable.