Geologists estimated that Afghanistan holds nearly $1 trillion in mineral wealth, including iron, copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth such as lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium. This wealth was remained untouched for decades. Now that the US had withdrawn from Afghanistan, the Taliban is seeking investment to exploit the minerals.
Photo: "Rough and Beautiful Afghanistan Landscape" by KerryMarasco is licensed under CC BY 2.0 After conflict for more than two decades, Afghanistan would need more infrastructure to exploit the minerals. China, Russia, and Pakistaare seeking to have mineral business with the Taliban. China has become the largest foreign direct investor since 2007. One of the Asian mining giants, the Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC), already holds a 30 years lease signed in 2007 to mine copper in Afghanistan.
China said that Afghanistan would benefit from its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). BRI is an infrastructure plan to build road, rail, sea routes through Asia to Europe. China wishes to develop a new silk road. However, China concerns with the possibility of Afghanistan being the hideout for Uyghur separatists.
