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Chinese firm told to start extracting copper at Mes Aynak by end of week
This comes after the acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri met with the Chinese ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, last week and stressed the need to accelerate Mes Aynak copper and Amu Darya basin oil projects.
After a 15-year delay, the extraction of copper at Mes Aynak is expected to finally get underway by the end of the week.
Ministry of Mines and Petroleum spokesman Homayoun Afghan said in a post on X that the contracting company has been told to immediately start operations, and processing, in accordance with the conditions of the agreement signed in 2008.
“The contracting company has been ordered to start [extraction of] the world’s largest copper mine – without any obstacles or delays – at the end of this week,” said Afghan.
This comes after the acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri met with the Chinese ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, last week and stressed the need to accelerate Mes Aynak copper and Amu Darya basin oil projects.
Experts say that the lack of standard equipment and machinery has created problems in the mining sector.
According to experts, Afghanistan’s mines should not be controlled by any foreign countries.
Currently, foreign companies from various countries are invested in the country’s mining sector – especially Chinese companies.
Mes Aynak copper mine is located 40 km southeast of Kabul in Logar province and is thought to have the second biggest copper deposit in the world.
The Chinese company MJAM won the Mes Aynak copper mining contract in 2007; but since then, due to security problems and the existence of ancient artifacts in the area, operations have stalled.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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