The Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has approved the deployment of 1,000 fighters to protect gold mining operations in Badakhshan province, according to the Taliban-appointed governor.
Ismail Ghaznawi, the Taliban governor of Badakhshan, said the force would be sent to the province with Akhundzada’s authorisation to safeguard gold extraction companies. He said the unit was being formed to protect investments and regulate the mining process.
In an interview, Ghaznawi said investment in Badakhshan’s mines required security and organised management, and that he had proposed the creation of a special force to ensure the safety of mining sites.
He added that the force is expected to begin operations soon and that technical preparations are under way.
Some local residents have expressed dissatisfaction over what they describe as a lack of transparency and environmental damage caused by intensive gold extraction.
Ghaznawi said revenues generated from the mines belong to the Taliban but would be spent on public welfare projects, particularly in Badakhshan.
In recent months, clashes have occurred between local residents and Taliban-linked mining companies in the province.
The Taliban have significantly expanded underground mining, especially gold extraction, in the northern provinces of Takhar and Badakhshan. Hundreds of companies are currently engaged in mining activities across northern Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says 100,000 people are employed, directly and indirectly, in gold mining in Badakhshan.
According to the ministry, mining activities are under way in the districts of Shahr-e Bozorg, Yawan, Kohistan, Raghistan, Khwahan and Arghanjkhwa.
