Afghanistan International: The protesters told Afghanistan International that mining workshops belonging to low-income individuals have been shut for about a month, while sites linked to powerful figures continue to operate. They alleged that those workshops had obtained permission to extract minerals by paying bribes to the Taliban. According to the protesters, the situation has left
8am: Several residents of Badakhshan province are complaining about the sale of agricultural land to mining companies and the seizure of parts of this land by individuals and companies linked to the Taliban. They say that many people, driven by poverty and economic hardship, are forced to sell their farmland without considering the long-term consequences
Amu: Gold mining operations in parts of Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province have been suspended amid escalating tensions over control of mineral-rich areas, local sources said on Wednesday. The suspension comes as Taliban attempt to contain growing unrest linked to gold mines in Shukai district and surrounding areas, where disputes between local residents, armed groups and
Afghanistan International: Local sources in Badakhshan tell Afghanistan International that the Taliban have detained several individuals, including relatives of a number of the group’s ethnic Tajik commanders, amid an ongoing dispute over gold. According to these sources, those detained include Khaled, a nephew of Mawlawi Amanuddin Mansoor, the Taliban’s governor in Helmand; Musa Kaka, a
Amu: Taliban on Sunday informed of signing a $20.2 million contract for the extraction of gold in northern Kunduz province with Afghan and Azerbaijani companies. But critics, including economists and anti-corruption advocates, have repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the contracts, revenue collection and oversight of Afghanistan’s mining sector. Click here to
8am: After seizing control of Afghanistan and accelerating the extraction of mineral resources, the Taliban awarded contracts for the large gold mines of Badakhshan and Takhar to Chinese companies. Concerns had previously been raised that the Taliban were looting the country’s natural wealth. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has approved the deployment of 1,000 fighters to protect gold mining operations in Badakhshan province, according to the Taliban-appointed governor. In recent months, clashes have occurred between local residents and Taliban-linked mining companies in the province. Click here to read more (externa link).
Amu: Local Taliban officials said they have identified a new deposit of semi-precious green garnet stone in the central province of Panjshir, marking the first reported discovery of the mineral in the area. Mohammad Qasim Amiri, the Taliban’s head of mines and petroleum in Panjshir, said the deposit was located in Ab Dara village in
8am: The Taliban’s claims of economic self-sufficiency and reduced narcotics production are superficial, short-term achievements designed to preserve the power of the ruling elite. In contrast, the people of Afghanistan face polluted villages, generations of illness, widespread poverty, suppression of women, and destruction of prospects for sustainable development. Click here to read more (external link).
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi January 11, 2026 A deadly confrontation at a gold mine in northern Afghanistan has cast new light on the Taliban’s push to expand gold extraction, raising questions about the largely unregulated operations and their foreign — mostly Chinese — backing. The latest incident comes as the Interior Ministry of the Taliban