The Taliban’s Economic Commission, chaired by Abdul Ghani Baradar, has approved the draft of a “National Mining Policy” and forwarded it to Hibatullah Akhundzada’s office for final approval.
According to the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, the policy aims to attract both domestic and foreign investment in Afghanistan’s mining sector, facilitate the import of modern extraction technologies, promote local mineral processing, and establish “standardized” methods of resource exploitation.
The statement added that the meeting also discussed adjustments to the contract for completing the remaining work on the 500-kilovolt transmission line from Sheberghan to Dasht-e Alwan, though no details were provided on the revisions. In addition, committees presented initial reports on the feasibility of the second phase of the Kamal Khan Dam (Qala-e-Afzal Dam) and on infrastructure needs at the country’s border ports.
Despite the Taliban’s push to formalize a national mining strategy, critics warn that without transparent oversight and accountable governance, the country’s vast mineral wealth risks being plundered. Observers caution that revenues could be diverted to fund Taliban operations and militant activities, undermining both sustainable development and long-term stability.
Afghanistan’s mineral reserves—estimated to be worth trillions of dollars—have long been viewed as a potential driver of economic growth. Yet under Taliban control, fears persist that resource extraction will serve narrow group interests rather than benefit the people of Afghanistan.
