(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The Talc Mining Society
The society's reaction comes in response to a report by Global Witness, an international NGO that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, conflict, poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide.
The Global Witness report said Islamic State or Daesh, the Taliban
Earnings from illegal talc mining is funding insurgent activities and fueling corruption, undermining the chances of the war-shattered country to ever see stability, warned the report by Global Witness advocacy group.
Talc is common ingredient found in baby powder, cosmetics, paint, paper and plastics.
Addressing reporters in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar, Haji Wali Khan Khogyani, head of the Talc Mining and Processing Factories Union, strongly rejected the report.
He said talc in Nangarhar was being extracted based on contracts with the government.
Flanked by the provincial Mining and Petroleum Department head, Khogyani said the Global Witness report was aimed at creating problems for the mining sector and to bring the industry to a halt in Afghanistan.
He termed the allegation that militants gained profits from the Nangarhar mining sector as far from truth and demanded evidence to prove the allegation.
Currently, talc was being excavated from mines in Khogyani and Sherzad districts under 32 different contracts and the mineral was exported to foreign countries after half processing at local factories.
But Amir Khan Yar, a lawmaker from Nangarhar province, said most of the talc deposits in Nangarhar were situated in areas where militants enjoyed influence.
He said besides militants, some politicians, lawmakers and tribal people also gained profits from mining of natural resources in the province.
nh/ma
MENAFN2805201801740000ID1096915508
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.