Afghanistan- Taliban help Pakistan get access to natural reserves in Helmand, Badakhshan

(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times) AT News Report

KABUL: The members of parliament express concern of the
situation of natural reserves in the provinces of Helmand and Badakhshan,
saying falling of these reserves to Taliban would open the door for Pakistani
geologists to demine the reserves with no problems.

Helmand has the mines of gold and some gems in the Khanshin
district that are used by Pakistani experts after the district fell to Taliban,
according to representatives of Helmand in parliament.

They said the materials are smuggled to abroad via Pakistan.

There are some mines in Nangarhar province in the east
mostly under Taliban control.

Representatives of Badakhshan in parliament said Tuesday
that the lapis lazuli mine in the district of Keran Wa Monjan that just fell to
Taliban on Monday. The parliamentarians said that the natural reserve is used
by Pakistani experts and taken to abroad.

The Integrity Watch Afghanistan said some companies asked
for legal extraction of these mines, but the government's disapproval
encouraged illegal armed groups to extract them.

Ministry of mines and petroleum admits the issues, saying
most of the mines are controlled by illegal armed groups and local powerful
individuals.

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