The Taliban’s weekly gemstone auctions in the emerald-rich Panjshir Province represent an effort to monetize Afghanistan's vast mineral resources, aimed at bolstering its fragile economy.
Since taking power in August 2021, the Taliban claim to have signed numerous investment deals for mining operations, including valuable minerals like gemstones, gold, and copper.
China is leading investments in Afghanistan's mining sector as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, while Russian and Iranian investors are also engaging in mining activities.
These mining ventures fill the economic vacuum left by the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021 and offer a potential lifeline for the struggling Afghan economy.
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