To go with 'Afghanistan-Mining', INVESTIGATION by Claire Gounon
This photograph taken on January 29, 2025 shows Afghanistan's mines ministry spokesman Humayoun Afghan adjusting his turban before attending an interview with AFP at his office in Kabul. Touting a return of security, Afghanistan's Taliban government is courting local and foreign investors to exploit the country's vast mineral wealth to secure a crucial revenue stream -- though experts warn of the risks of cutting corners. Emeralds, rubies, marble, gold and lithium: Afghanistan's rocky landscape contains underground resources estimated to be worth a trillion dollars, according to US and UN assessments from 2010 and 2013. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP) / To go with 'Afghanistan-Mining', INVESTIGATION by Claire Gounon