The Taliban’s governor of Panjshir says approximately 700 mines are currently operating across the province and that all mining activities are under the administration and supervision of Taliban authorities.
Speaking to Afghanistan’s state-run National Television, Hafiz Mohammad Agha Hakim said Panjshir possesses significant mineral resources, including beryl, rubies and other precious stones, as well as around 1,700 identified emerald deposits.
Hakim said mining operations are managed through various Taliban committees and that all extraction and administrative processes remain under the group’s direct control.
He also invited both domestic and foreign investors to invest in the exploration and development of Panjshir’s mineral resources.
The statement comes as Afghanistan’s mining sector continues to expand under Taliban rule. Independent analysts have raised concerns that mining activities are increasingly taking place without independent oversight, transparent financial management or adequate environmental safeguards.
Some Afghan citizens have also expressed concern over what they describe as the exploitation of the country’s natural resources for the benefit of a limited group.
Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has previously argued that mining contracts awarded by the Taliban through non-transparent processes lack international legitimacy. In a separate report, Foreign Policy alleged that some groups linked to al-Qaeda have benefited from revenues generated by mines operating under Taliban control.
Nimruz TV cannot independently verify those allegations, and the Taliban have consistently rejected accusations that mining revenues are being diverted to armed groups or managed without proper oversight.
