Balkhab District, Sar-e-Pol — Wednesday, 3 September 2025
The Taliban announced that Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, has officially inaugurated large-scale coal extraction in Balkhab, Sar-e-Pul province, during his tour of northern Afghanistan.
According to a statement from the Taliban, the project is being carried out by the state-run National Development Company. Officials say more than 100 mining tunnels have already been excavated, with over 2,000 workers directly employed at the site. Annual production is projected at around 500,000 tons of coal.
The Taliban added that coal from Balkhab will be used to generate energy, boost domestic industry, reduce poverty, and strengthen the national economy. They also reported the construction of more than 200 kilometers of gravel road as part of the project.
Local Concerns
Residents of Balkhab strongly contest the Taliban’s claims. Locals argue that natural resources in the district have been taken by force and that the substantial revenues generated from the mine flow to Taliban coffers rather than to the community.
Some residents allege that a portion of the income is being directed to the second phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal project, while Balkhab itself continues to face poverty, unemployment, and a lack of basic services.
“The Taliban have registered our mine under their name, but the people of Balkhab have no share of the income or job opportunities,” one local resident told reporters.
Wider Criticism
International observers have repeatedly questioned the transparency of Afghanistan’s mining industry and the Taliban’s use of revenues. Critics also warn that uncontrolled coal extraction could damage agricultural land and the local environment.
Residents further complain that most workers at the site have been brought in from outside the region, leaving many young people in Balkhab unemployed. They add that the district remains marginalized and deprived of essential services despite its natural wealth.
Outlook
While the Taliban present Balkhab’s coal project as an economic success story, local communities say the mine should serve as a source of prosperity for Balkhab itself — not as a channel of enrichment for Taliban leaders and their networks.
“Balkhab’s coal belongs to the people of Balkhab, not the Taliban,” a community statement read. “This mine should be used for the development of the region, not to fill the pockets of exploiters.”
