The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Taliban officials in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province said they have sold 8,628 carats of newly extracted emeralds worth about $475,400, marking one of the group’s largest gemstone auctions in the region.
The Taliban’s provincial media office said Tuesday that the
emeralds were sold through an official bidding ceremony attended by members of
the Mining Oversight Committee, as well as Afghan and foreign traders.
According to the statement, 11 boxes of emeralds were offered, and a Czech
investor took part alongside local businessmen.
Mohammad Agha Hakim, the Taliban-appointed governor of
Panjshir, said nearly 100 young residents are now working in the province’s
gemstone trade, mainly dealing in emeralds.
Taliban officials said the sale of Panjshir emeralds could
help spur economic growth, attract foreign investment, and create jobs,
providing a new income source for local communities.
However, critics have warned that the lack of independent
oversight and transparency in mining operations could lead to illegal
smuggling, corruption, and the misuse of revenue for non-development purposes.
Rights groups and analysts have also expressed concerns that Afghanistan’s natural
resources are increasingly being exploited without regulation under Taliban
control.
