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Concerns Raised Over Illegal Mining In Badakhshan

Badakhshan’s mining and petroleum department on Wednesday raised concerns over the illegal extraction of gold and lapis lazuli by insurgents in the province.  
 
Badakhshan’s mining director Mohammad Akbar Anwari, who raised the matter, said terrorists and groups of armed men have accelerated the extraction of gold from mines in Raghistan district and lapis in Karan-o-Manjan districts.

“After lapis mines, the Raghistan district’s gold mines are the second biggest source of income for the Taliban, who are using the money to finance and equip themselves to fight security forces. If government does not free these mines this winter then it will be difficult to do so in summer,” Anwari said.

“If Badakhshan’s gold and lapis mines are taken back from the Taliban and come under government control our income will increase and job opportunities will be provided for our youths,” Anwari added.

Meanwhile Badakhshan’s deputy governor Gul Mohammad Bedar confirmed that the Taliban control at least two mines in the province.  

“Taliban has access to Raghistan’s gold mine. The extraction of that mine has been banned by the president but it is still being excavated illegally,” Bedar said.

But Badakhshan police said that an operation to clear the mines of Taliban will be launched in the near future.  

“We have preparations and soon we will conduct operations and remove the Taliban from the mines, which we will hand over to government,” said Badakhshan police security head Mohammad Nabi Bayan.

The Badakhshan lapis mine has been extracted illegally by the Taliban and armed groups for several years. The semi-precious stone is then smuggled through Panjshir province to neighboring countries, especially Pakistan.

Concerns Raised Over Illegal Mining In Badakhshan

Badakhshan’s officials said terrorists and groups of armed men have accelerated extraction of gold and lapis from mines in Raghistan and Karan-o-Manjan district.

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Badakhshan’s mining and petroleum department on Wednesday raised concerns over the illegal extraction of gold and lapis lazuli by insurgents in the province.  
 
Badakhshan’s mining director Mohammad Akbar Anwari, who raised the matter, said terrorists and groups of armed men have accelerated the extraction of gold from mines in Raghistan district and lapis in Karan-o-Manjan districts.

“After lapis mines, the Raghistan district’s gold mines are the second biggest source of income for the Taliban, who are using the money to finance and equip themselves to fight security forces. If government does not free these mines this winter then it will be difficult to do so in summer,” Anwari said.

“If Badakhshan’s gold and lapis mines are taken back from the Taliban and come under government control our income will increase and job opportunities will be provided for our youths,” Anwari added.

Meanwhile Badakhshan’s deputy governor Gul Mohammad Bedar confirmed that the Taliban control at least two mines in the province.  

“Taliban has access to Raghistan’s gold mine. The extraction of that mine has been banned by the president but it is still being excavated illegally,” Bedar said.

But Badakhshan police said that an operation to clear the mines of Taliban will be launched in the near future.  

“We have preparations and soon we will conduct operations and remove the Taliban from the mines, which we will hand over to government,” said Badakhshan police security head Mohammad Nabi Bayan.

The Badakhshan lapis mine has been extracted illegally by the Taliban and armed groups for several years. The semi-precious stone is then smuggled through Panjshir province to neighboring countries, especially Pakistan.

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