Unresolved internal disputes regarding revenue distribution, local rights, and mining control are driving ongoing violence and unrest in northern Afghanistan. The country holds over 30 critical minerals, including cobalt, copper, lithium, and rare earths, across nearly 90 confirmed mineral occurrences.
Mining operations under Taliban rule currently function with little transparency or legal restraint after the government repealed subsidiary laws. Concessions have allegedly been granted to officials and commanders through informal applications rather than standard procedures.
A 2024 leadership reshuffle moved the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum from Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar, who was aligned with the Haqqani Network, to Haji Gul Agha (Mullah Hidayatullah Badri), who is aligned with Kandahar. A clash in the Samti area of Chah Ab district, Takhar, in January 2026 resulted in five injuries and four deaths.
Jumma Khan Fateh, a commander affiliated with the Haqqani Network, surrendered on 17 August after reportedly contacting the Afghanistan Freedom Front. Documented corruption in the sector includes a USD 700,000 talc scheme in Nangarhar and a USD 200,000 bribe involving the Wikador mine.
High-ranking officials have held undisclosed financial stakes in mines such as the Awez gold deposit in Shahri Buzurg.
