Afghanistan: The Benefits of Afghanistan’s Mineral Riches May Not Be So Forthcoming

Sep 23, 2023 | Nadia Ahmad and Luke Danielson
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In late August, the Taliban interim government signed several contracts worth $6.5bn with foreign and national investors to develop some of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth. As the country grapples with a struggling economy and the legacy of decades of war and great power conflicts, these mining deals could provide much-needed revenue and employment opportunities.

But they also raise serious questions about the country’s sovereignty, natural resource integrity, environment, and cultural heritage preservation.

The deals appear to be a double-edged sword: Afghanistan could benefit spectacularly – or it could fall into the same trap other resource-rich developing nations have, to the detriment of its people.