Opaque Gold Mining Expands to Kasham District in Badakhshan, Raising Local Concerns

Local sources in Badakhshan report that the plundering of gold mines has extended to Kasham district, where opaque extraction of this natural resource has begun. According to these sources, activities are being carried out without clarity regarding contracts or how the revenues are utilized.

Badakhshan, a northeastern province of Afghanistan, is known for its significant gold reserves. In recent years, numerous reports have emerged highlighting unregulated mining and illegal transportation of gold from the area. The expansion of these practices to Kasham district has heightened local residents’ concerns about environmental degradation and the deprivation of mining revenues from the people.

Despite the increasing reports, the Taliban administration has yet to provide any explanation about how gold extraction is conducted in Badakhshan or how the proceeds are managed. The lack of transparency in mine management and the public’s restricted access to information raise serious questions over the fate of the country’s natural resources.

Experts have consistently stressed that mines should be managed through transparent mechanisms that consider the interests of the local population. Otherwise, the continuation of such practices could exacerbate public distrust and harm national assets.