Afghan government accused of inaction on mining safeguards
Source: AP-Excite
By LYNNE O'DONNELL
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Two anti-corruption organizations on Sunday accused Afghanistan's government of failing to take action to protect its vital mining sector from graft and conflict.
Global Witness and Integrity Watch Afghanistan said President Ashraf Ghani's administration didn't present any concrete measures for protecting and developing its $1 trillion worth of mineral assets during a meeting of donors in Kabul.
Mining is one of the few avenues for developing a self-sustaining economy in Afghanistan and ending the country's reliance on international aid. Despite its potential, international investors are reluctant to enter Afghanistan because of conflict, corruption, poor infrastructure and lack of a mining law that meets international norms.
The Taliban, which has waged a 14-year insurgency in Afghanistan, has seized mineral assets across the country, profiting from illegal mining of gold, talc, marble, chromite and gemstones.
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