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KABUL – In a meeting with China’s special envoy on Monday, Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government pressed for progress on the Aynak copper mine, the world’s second-largest copper deposit. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi sought assurances on the practical advancement of the project during talks with Yue Xiaoyong, China’s special envoy for Afghanistan affairs.
The Taliban government is advocating for the extraction of copper from the Mes Aynak mine as an additional revenue source, despite concerns from archaeologists due to its location at an ancient historical site. Situated more than 40 kilometers southeast of Kabul in Logar province, the mine is considered one of the largest untapped copper reserves globally, with deposits valued at least $50 billion.
The Mes Aynak mine is situated at the site of an ancient Buddhist city along the Silk Road. Archaeologists have uncovered structures and artifacts, indicating copper mining activities dating back 2,000 years. However, the Taliban is eager to initiate mining operations to counter international sanctions, driven by their financial needs, according to Azarakhsh Hafizi, an economist and former head of the international relations committee at Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Observers note that Afghanistan, historically dependent on international aid since the 1920s, is now seeking alternative revenue sources with the termination of international funding. “Afghanistan’s export was worth $2 billion in the past year, primarily from minerals,” said Hafizi, highlighting the Taliban’s urgency to tap into the Mes Aynak mine for economic stability.
