For the first time, Indian traders participated in Afghanistan’s mineral stone auction, according to Bakhtar News Agency, run by the Taliban. The auction, held on Monday (August 18), involved the sale of 125 kilograms of beryl and kunzite stones extracted from Nuristan mines, generating over 5.3 million Afghanis.
Although India has not recognized the Taliban government and remains cautious due to the group’s historical ties to Pakistan, bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan reached $890 million in the Afghan year 1403.
Since taking power, the Taliban has prioritized the exploitation and sale of Afghanistan’s mineral resources. However, critics argue the group lacks the legal and moral legitimacy to manage national assets. Concerns have been raised over the absence of transparency, with fears that profits from mineral sales may be diverted to bolster Taliban enforcement units tasked with repressing citizens.
Some observers warn that instead of contributing to national development, revenue from these auctions may be fueling the very apparatus that suppresses the population.
