China, Middle East and Europe link up with Taliban sitting on massive mineral deposits and poppy fields
The international community has its eyes on Afghan Poppy and Minerals. In 2010 US military officials and geologists revealed that the country was sitting on mineral deposits worth nearly $1 trillion.
Mineral deposits including huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like lithium are so big and include so many minerals that are essential to modern industry that Afghanistan could eventually be transformed into one of the most important mining centers in the world, the United States officials revealed in 2010.
And then there are the poppy fields, lusted after by the addicted. global public. Currently, Afghanistan has over 550,000 acres of poppy fields. Since 2001, the US has been unsuccessful in halting the production of Heroin that in 2017 accounted for 7% of Afghanistan’s gross domestic product (GDP). Despite not having control of the country for 2 decades, the Taliban has benefited greatly from this market that supplies 8o% of opium worldwide. UN officials estimate that the group made a profit of $400 million between 2018 and 2019. It is believed that the Taliban has become involved in all aspects of the opium industry in Afghanistan including planting, extraction, trafficking, taxing, and building drug labs.
And now the Taliban has become a valuable friend as it is largely in control of the poppy and mineral fields and the group will leverage its assets with the highest bedders.
Member of Negotiations Team and Polit. Office Spokesman for International Media for the Taliban (The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) shifts gears from talks of U.S. control in Afghanistan to diplomacy with China, Doha, Turkey, the U.K. And other power players.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Director, PO held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China. Both sides discussed the ongoing situation of the country and future relations. The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that they would maintain their embassy in Kabul, adding our relations would beef up as compared to the past. Afghanistan can play an important role in security and development of the region. China will also continue and increase its humanitarian assistance.
Sher M.Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Director, Political Office (PO) and his accompanying delegation met with Simon Gass, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of UK and his delegation in Doha, yesterday. Humanitarian assistance, political and security topics as well as mutual relations came under discussion. The UK delegation reiterated that they had already increased their humanitarian assistance and was ready to cooperate with IEA in future as well. The PO delegation welcomed their humanitarian assistance.
Sher M. Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Director, Political Office (PO) and his accompanying delegation met with Markus Potzel, German Ambassador to Afghanistan. Both sides discussed the ongoing situation of the country, rehabilitation of the Airport and issues related to economic development and humanitarian assistance.The German delegation emphasized on boosting and continuing their humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan which was appreciated by PO delegation.