Taliban will create an economic zone in the old military base: will start from Kabul, now preparing to focus on trade and economy

Posted on 21st Feb 2023 by rohit kumar

The Taliban, which is ruling Afghanistan, made an important announcement on Monday. According to the Taliban, it will use the military bases left by the US as economic zones. Its purpose is to promote trade and the economy in the country.

 

The American army remained in Afghanistan for almost 20 years. Under 'War Against Terror', he built many military bases in many parts of Afghanistan for the convenience of his soldiers. These bases are lying vacant since the return of American and NATO troops. Taliban is going to use this infrastructure to improve the economy.

 

Mulla Baradar announced

The decision to use the military base as an economic zone was announced by Taliban acting prime minister and finance minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Baradar said in a statement – We have decided that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will take control of the old military bases. Earlier NATO soldiers used them. Now we are going to make their special economic zones.

 

Baradar said- It will start from Kabul. After this, an economic zone will be created in Bach state. At present, not much information can be given about this. We have prepared its proper plan.

 

In a conversation with the BBC, Mohammad Faizal bin Abdul Rahman, a researcher at the Singapore School of International Studies, said - It is a good thing that the Taliban's focus is on providing good governance. If they are getting ready to trade, that's good news. They want to promote investment in the border area, China will keep an eye on them.

 

No shortage of natural resources

 

It is believed that a large number of natural gas, copper, and some other valuable materials are present in the soil of Afghanistan. Their value is considered to be around 1 trillion dollars. However, it is also true that due to being involved in different types of war for about 50 years, they could never be detected.

 

When the Taliban captured the government of Afghanistan in August 2021, it looked into this. However, he still has many challenges ahead of him.

 

His assets worth about $ 9 billion are frozen in the US.

Earlier this year, the Taliban said it was considering a deal with a Chinese company to search for precious metals underground in northern Afghanistan. However, China has not yet given any statement regarding this.

 

In 2013, China started the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to build a railroad network in the Pakistan and Afghanistan region, but it is almost on the verge of closure in Pakistan. The conditions for it to start in Afghanistan have not been created.

 

Lithium in Afghanistan

 

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world, but Afghanistan has reserves of minerals worth more than one trillion dollars i.e. 74.37 lakh crore rupees. In 2010, US military officials and the Geological Survey revealed that the central and southern regions of Afghanistan have mineral deposits worth about a trillion dollars, which could completely change the country's economic prospects.

 

According to scientists, there are large deposits of iron, copper, cobalt, gold, and lithium in Afghanistan. Scientists believe that Afghanistan's rare mineral resources are the largest on earth. Let us tell you that rare minerals are the biggest need of technology at this time. Mobile phones, TVs, hybrid engines, computers, lasers, and batteries are made with their help.

 

Mirzad of the US Geological Survey told Science magazine in 2010 that if Afghanistan had a few years of peace and developed its mineral resources, it could become one of the richest countries in the region within a decade.

 

Taliban is also the biggest problem

Security challenges, lack of infrastructure, and drought have previously prevented these minerals from being extracted, said security expert Rod Schoonover, founding scientist of the Ecological Futures Group. Now with the arrival of the Taliban in Afghanistan, this situation is not likely to change soon. The largest mineral reserves are iron and copper and their quantity is considerable. These are in such quantity that Afghanistan can become the largest country in the world in these minerals. The Taliban to its supporting countries, including China are also eyeing this.

 

Also Read: Afghanistan: Taliban changed civil laws to Islamic laws, 'purification' campaign started across the country