8am: The mines and underground resources of a country are not the property of its government but belong to the people of that country. Governments can only extract and utilize these resources when they are legitimate and lawful representatives of the people. This legitimacy stems from citizens granting authority to individuals or entities through elections to manage these resources on their behalf. The Taliban’s utilization of these public assets, despite not having been granted such authority, constitutes the plundering of public wealth. The Taliban regime lacks both international and domestic legitimacy to authorize the drilling of oil wells or the extraction of underground resources. The fact that the Taliban seized power through armed force and collaboration with certain countries, yet are extracting national resources, resembles armed robbery, enforced by coercion and weapons. Since even the Taliban’s allied nations and governments do not officially recognize them, any transactions with such an illegitimate group are inherently unlawful. Both parties to a legal agreement must have legitimacy, but the Taliban lacks both domestic and international legitimacy. Click here to read more (external link).