Gold is being extracted from landmines in Afghanistan, 1 lakh people have been employed for digging.

Desk: Gold mining is currently underway at a rapid pace in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province. The area where the Taliban had previously laid landmines is now producing gold and precious stones. According to the Taliban, approximately 100,000 people are working in the Badakhshan mines. Gold, lapis lazuli, and other precious stones are found in large quantities here. However, it is also being said that this mining is not transparent and regulations are not being followed properly.

In fact, there is an ongoing internal conflict within the Taliban over Badakhshan. Tensions have escalated between the Kandahar-based Taliban and the local Taliban in Badakhshan for control of the mines. Major changes have taken place in Badakhshan in the past few months. Local officials have been removed, some arrested, and others transferred to other areas. They have been replaced by trusted individuals from Kandahar. Additionally, a contingent of 1,000 soldiers has been deployed in Badakhshan.

The Taliban government claims this force is for mine protection, but locals believe its purpose is to give Kandahar complete control over the mines and reduce the power of local commanders. According to sources, many local commanders in Badakhshan were making significant profits from the mines. Some commanders had become so powerful that they were running large-scale projects.

This alarmed the Taliban’s top leadership, fearing that these commanders were becoming too powerful and independent. Consequently, several major measures were taken. Shafiqullah Hafizi, head of the mining department, was removed and replaced by Abdul Mateen Rahimzai from another province. Juma Khan Fateh, a powerful leader in the Darwaz region, was removed from his post and sent to Zabul because the leadership lacked confidence in him.