Asif Mahmood

 Some reports do more than inform. They unsettle. Recent disclosures made in Lahore by Mufti Abdul Rahim of Jamia Rasheed, coupled with emerging accounts on Afghanistan’s war economy, fall squarely into that category. They force the reader to pause and reflect, because beneath the familiar image of a war ravaged country lies a far more disturbing reality.

It is commonly assumed that Afghanistan’s shattered economy survives almost entirely on war related activity. Yet a closer look reveals a different and more troubling picture. Afghanistan sits atop some of the world’s most valuable mineral reserves, particularly gold and other strategic resources. Instead of becoming a foundation for reconstruction and public welfare, these resources are being converted into fuel for conflict, repression and terrorism. Recent reports indicate that large sums generated through mining are not only consolidating armed power inside Afghanistan but are also reaching militant elements involved in terrorism in Pakistan.

Developments in Badakhshan and Takhar are especially alarming. These regions possess enormous mining potential, but the priority is not public development. The emphasis is on channeling wealth into military strength. In principle, any state has the right to strengthen its defenses. What makes these reports deeply troubling is that the same money is allegedly flowing to terrorist networks responsible for bloodshed and instability in Pakistan. This is not merely an internal Afghan issue. It is a direct source of anxiety for Pakistan and a destabilizing factor for the entire region.

According to local accounts, the situation deteriorated sharply when Taliban backed forces seized control of gold mines in areas such as Chah Ab in Takhar and parts of Badakhshan. Local communities protested against dispossession from land they considered their own. The response was brutal. Taliban security forces, alongside armed men linked to Bashir Haji Noorzi, opened fire on protesters, resulting in deaths and destruction of property. This violence exposed the true nature of the mining system, one sustained not by public consent but by force.

The figure of Bashir Haji Noorzi is revealing. Previously associated with narcotics trafficking, he was released in 2022 and has since emerged as a key operator in Taliban controlled mining ventures. Critics argue that his role underscores how the mining........

© The Patriot