Afghanistan: China’s Exploitation of Afghan Mines through Criminal Networks Raises Alarm

Mar 29, 2025 | Manoj Gupta, CNN-News18
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The controversial exploitation of Afghan mines, involving a Chinese company and local criminal networks through a deal with the Taliban, has come to light, revealing that the Chinese firm has enlisted the help of local drug lord Haji Basheer Noorzai, who was released from US custody in a prisoner exchange in 2022, to facilitate this operation.  The agreement, which lacks transparency and international legitimacy, has sparked serious concerns regarding resource theft, ecological degradation, and human rights violations. The Samti mines in Takhar Province, estimated to contain 20-25 metric tons of gold, have been handed over to Noorzai for extraction.