8am: Afghanistan is a land rich in underground resources—an abundance that, in terms of value and diversity, could form the backbone of its national economy and lay the foundation for sustainable development. However, rather than being utilized through a development-oriented framework, these assets have increasingly been subject to systematic looting and unregulated extraction in recent decades. Following the collapse of the republic and the rise of the Taliban, who lack any semblance of legitimate governance, covert contracts with foreign companies, unbridled exploitation, and the distribution of lucrative mining concessions among Taliban commanders have entrenched a new form of predatory economy. In the absence of the rule of law and scientific oversight, these practices not only fail to serve the public interest but actively fuel war, corruption, and the empowerment of non-state actors. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, and in the absence of a legitimate government, this destructive trend has escalated. Click here to read more (external link).
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