Taliban Urges China to Commence Operations at Aynak Copper Mine

During a recent meeting with Yue Xiaoyong, China's special envoy for Afghanistan affairs, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi requested the commencement of operations at the Aynak copper project.

The discussion focused on initiating the practical aspects of this mining project.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban's Foreign Ministry, released a statement on Monday detailing the talks between Muttaqi and Xiaoyong. The dialogue centered around recent progress in Afghanistan-China bilateral relations.

Yue Xiaoyong assured that China respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and will not meddle in its internal matters. The Chinese envoy emphasized collaboration between the two nations to initiate the mining project.

The meeting also addressed the potential for expanding Afghanistan's export sectors to China. Muttaqi highlighted the need for exploring opportunities that would enhance trade between the two countries.

Balkhi mentioned that China has considerably reduced customs duties on Afghan imports, a move aimed at strengthening bilateral trade.

The Taliban Foreign Ministry’s statement affirmed the group’s readiness to begin work on the Aynak copper mine. The Taliban leadership has repeatedly requested Chinese authorities to expedite the start of the project.

Located in Logar province, the Aynak copper mine is not only Afghanistan's largest copper mine but also ranks as the world's second-largest. In 2008, Afghanistan and the Chinese company MCC signed the mining contract, granting MCC a 30-year extraction license.

Over the past two years, the Taliban has significantly increased mining activities across Afghanistan, awarding extraction rights for various large and small mines to both local and foreign entities, predominantly Chinese firms.

This mining initiative comes as the Taliban confronts financial challenges, seeking to boost revenue through resource extraction. However, many mining experts have criticized these efforts, labelling them as exploitative depletion of Afghanistan's natural resources.