Taliban Administration Uncovers 30-Square-Kilometer Gold Mine in Panjshir’s Paryan District
The Taliban administration announced the discovery of a gold mine covering approximately 30 square kilometers in the Paryan district of Panjshir province. Local officials from the administration stated that the extraction process of this mine will be carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
Mohammad Agha Hakim, the Taliban-appointed governor of Panjshir, emphasized that the extraction must be conducted using “standard and technical methods.” He noted that any non-standard extraction is unacceptable, and all activities must be fully guided and coordinated by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
The Taliban governor’s office in Panjshir also claimed to have halted the activities of over 300 local workers who were engaged in unprofessional mining operations in the gold mine located in the Tel village of the Paryan district. According to the office, this measure was taken to prevent illegal extraction.
This announcement comes amid reports in recent months of extensive and industrial gold mining operations in the provinces of Takhar and Badakhshan, a process that has faced protests from some local residents. Protesters say they have been excluded from job opportunities related to the mines, and the extraction activities have not only failed to improve their economic conditions but also caused water pollution and environmental damage.
Despite the economic importance of mines in a country like Afghanistan, where a large portion of natural resources remains untapped, the Taliban administration has so far not transparently shared details of extraction contracts or the allocation process of these projects with the public. This issue continues to raise questions and concerns regarding transparency and the local residents’ share.
