How Afghan Taliban are financing the insurgency in Afghanistan
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Local officials in Paktia province on Monday expressed outrage over what they described as years of domination by the Taliban insurgents of the chromium mine in the Janikhail district.
Powerful local elements are coordinating with the Taliban in the illegal extraction of Chromite, they said.
"Those who extract chromite for the state are doing so in the national interest and that is to be welcomed. Anyone doing so illegally are criminals,” said Zalmai Wesa, the provincial governor.
While the Taliban controls the chromium mine in the district, illegal extraction continues, said Sharifullah Sarhadi, Janikhail's district governor. The province borders Pakistan.
“The mine is located in the Khadan area and valuable stones are under Taliban control,” said Sarhadi.
Local residents in Paktia have said that after extracting chromium from the mine, the Taliban sends it to Pakistan to finance their war machine.
“Taliban are dominant on those areas and with the help of some people, the Taliban control those mines,” said Eid Mohammad a resident.
“The chromium is extracted by the Taliban and exported to Pakistan,” said Sardar Khan, a tribal elder.
Paktia officials say the Taliban have signed a contract for extraction of chromite with a Pakistani company.
