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Analysts: Over 2,000 Illegal Mining Sites in Afghanistan

Representatives of the Afghanistan Natural Resources Oversight Network on Wednesday reported findings that suggest there are well over 2,000 illegal mining sites across the country. The network members called on the Afghan government to take action on the issue.

According to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) there are no exact figures regarding the number of sites where mineral resources are extracted illegally. However, within the next three months, ministry officials say they will have a comprehensive report drafted identifying sites, which will then be handed over to the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to aid in prevention efforts.

Jawed Noorani, a member of the Afghanistan Natural Resources Oversight Network, says that local power-brokers are largely to blame for the pervasive illegal mining, which is said to include the smuggling of coal and precious gems abroad.

"There might be 2,500 to 3,000 sites where illegal extractions are taking place," Noorani said on Wednesday. "It must be said that a mine that gets extracted from multiple directions, it cannot be even counted," he added.

Previously, officials from the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum reported roughly 1,400 sites where resources were extracted illegally. Yet, as the estimates by the oversight network suggest, those numbers are thought to have climbed.

In addition to wasting critical natural resource revenue that could be used for development purposes, the illegal extraction operations are said to help fund insurgent groups in some cases.

"There are also reports that part of the income from illegal mines might go to the anti-government armed groups," MoMP spokesman Mahai-u-din Noori said. "These reports are not news, as similar things were being said in the past years as well."

Analysts: Over 2,000 Illegal Mining Sites in Afghanistan

Representatives of the Afghanistan Natural Resources Oversight Network on Wednesday reported findi

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Representatives of the Afghanistan Natural Resources Oversight Network on Wednesday reported findings that suggest there are well over 2,000 illegal mining sites across the country. The network members called on the Afghan government to take action on the issue.

According to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) there are no exact figures regarding the number of sites where mineral resources are extracted illegally. However, within the next three months, ministry officials say they will have a comprehensive report drafted identifying sites, which will then be handed over to the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to aid in prevention efforts.

Jawed Noorani, a member of the Afghanistan Natural Resources Oversight Network, says that local power-brokers are largely to blame for the pervasive illegal mining, which is said to include the smuggling of coal and precious gems abroad.

"There might be 2,500 to 3,000 sites where illegal extractions are taking place," Noorani said on Wednesday. "It must be said that a mine that gets extracted from multiple directions, it cannot be even counted," he added.

Previously, officials from the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum reported roughly 1,400 sites where resources were extracted illegally. Yet, as the estimates by the oversight network suggest, those numbers are thought to have climbed.

In addition to wasting critical natural resource revenue that could be used for development purposes, the illegal extraction operations are said to help fund insurgent groups in some cases.

"There are also reports that part of the income from illegal mines might go to the anti-government armed groups," MoMP spokesman Mahai-u-din Noori said. "These reports are not news, as similar things were being said in the past years as well."

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