The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Taliban authorities in northern Afghanistan’s Panjshir province have begun issuing licenses for the extraction of 17 types of precious and semi-precious stones, the governor’s spokesperson said.
Sayeduddin Laton, spokesperson for the Taliban governor in
Panjshir, told local media that the minerals include ruby, emerald, agate,
green garnet, amethyst, crystal, citrine, aventurine, prasiolite, quartz,
chalcedony, tourmaline, microcline, moonstone and others.
He said the mines have been identified by the Taliban
Ministry of Mines and Petroleum in Panjshir’s provincial capital Bazarak, as
well as in the districts of Anaba, Rokha, Hisa-i-Awal, Afshar, Dara and Parian.
Laton added that the extraction of these resources is expected
to create hundreds of job opportunities for local residents.
The move comes as Taliban authorities continue efforts to
expand mining operations across mineral-rich provinces of Afghanistan.
