Gold mining operations have begun in northern Afghanistan’s Kunduz province, with a $20 million investment in the Sarkh-Betel and Takhta Qabad areas of Qala-e-Zal district, local authorities say.

The project was launched in the presence of local officials, tribal elders and residents, according to the provincial Department of Mines and Petroleum.

Officials described the initiative as one of Kunduz’s largest mining projects, saying it is expected to create hundreds of jobs and support local economic development.

The contracting company has also allocated $200,000 for road construction and other development projects in Qala-e-Zal district, officials said.

Residents have welcomed the start of operations, expressing hope that the project will provide employment for young people, improve infrastructure and boost household incomes.

They also stressed the importance of prioritising local workers and investing in essential services to ensure communities benefit directly from the mining activity.

The project marks a new development in Kunduz’s mining sector, with local authorities and residents hoping the investment will generate sustainable employment and deliver broader economic benefits to the district.

Representatives of Afghan migrants living in Ankara, Türkiye, have raised concerns over residency fees, visa restrictions, detention cases and access to consular services during a meeting with a delegation from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was held on Friday October 23, with the participation of Saeed Ahmad Banuri, head of the office of the leadership of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, and Saniullah Farahmand, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador to Türkiye.

Banuri said the delegation had been assigned, following directives from the Islamic Emirate’s leadership and reports received from Türkiye, to hear migrants’ complaints directly and refer them to the relevant authorities in Afghanistan and Türkiye for follow-up.

During the meeting, three representatives of Afghan migrants outlined several challenges, including the high cost of renewing residence permits, difficulties obtaining visas for sick migrants, problems in camps, the detention of some Afghans despite holding valid residency documents, difficulties obtaining civil and health documents, and high air travel ticket prices.

The representatives also called for the activation of an Afghan migrant affairs attaché office in Türkiye to facilitate the handling of their concerns.

Farahmand said the Afghan Embassy would continue efforts to address migrants’ problems within its capacity.

Banuri assured the representatives that their concerns would be documented and conveyed to the relevant authorities in both countries in an effort to find solutions.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Saber Omar, deputy head of the Consular Affairs Department responsible for migrant affairs at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed difficulties involving civil documentation and assured the participants that efforts would be made to address the issue.

The meeting focused on improving consular assistance, addressing residency-related difficulties and strengthening coordination between Afghan authorities and their counterparts in Türkiye.

Afghanistan and Turkmenistan have held discussions on the development of the Herat gas pipeline and the expansion of gas distribution networks, as Kabul seeks to attract investment and introduce modern technologies to the country’s energy sector.

Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, Chief Executive Officer of the state-owned Afghan Gas Company, held talks with officials from Turkmenistan’s state-owned Turkmengaz company and representatives of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project during a visit to Turkmenistan, where he attended the country’s international oil and gas conference.

According to Afghanistan’s General Directorate of State-Owned Companies, the discussions focused on issues related to gas transmission and distribution, as well as the use of advanced equipment and internationally recognized technical standards in the sector.

Mansour reportedly identified the adoption of modern technologies in gas extraction, transmission and distribution as a key priority for Afghan Gas.

Focus on Investment and Technical Cooperation

During the visit, the Afghan Gas chief also met with representatives of international companies to explore opportunities for technical and commercial cooperation.

The discussions emphasized direct cooperation, the exchange of technical expertise and experience, and the adoption of new technologies. Mansour also highlighted the importance of attracting investment to Afghanistan’s gas sector.

The General Directorate of State-Owned Companies said the meetings provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with international firms, identify potential areas for joint cooperation and present investment opportunities in Afghanistan’s gas industry.

TAPI Project Remains a Key Regional Energy Initiative

The TAPI gas pipeline project is designed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, making it one of the region’s major energy cooperation initiatives.

The expansion of gas transmission infrastructure and distribution networks could help improve access to energy in Afghanistan while creating opportunities for investment and strengthening regional economic cooperation.