Some residents of Helmand say that despite the closure of trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, marble extracted from mines in Khanashin district of the province is being illegally transported to Pakistan through Bahramcha district.
Sulaiman, a marble miner in Khanashin district who previously served in the Afghan National Army, says mining activities in the area have provided employment for nearly 100 people, allowing them to support themselves and their families.
At the same time, he expressed concern over Helmand’s marble being exported at low prices, arguing that instead of exporting raw stone, facilities for establishing stone-processing factories should be developed inside Afghanistan so that the added value of these resources remains in the country.
Juma Khan, another marble miner in Helmand who has worked in stone extraction for around 12 years and leads a team of 30 workers, called on the relevant authorities to take action to prevent the smuggling of the country’s mineral resources.
He says Afghan marble is sold at low prices inside the country, but after being transported to Pakistan and processed there, it is brought back into Afghanistan at significantly higher prices.
Juma Khan also said that between three and five trucks carrying marble are smuggled into Pakistan through Bahramcha every day.
Helmand’s marble mines are located in Khanashin and Dishu districts, and the stone is considered one of the province’s important construction and decorative resources. Marble is used in flooring, building facades, tables, flowerpots, household items, and other decorative products.
There is also a marble-processing factory operating in Lashkar Gah, but local residents say its operations are limited and that it mainly produces paving stones. They added that a significant portion of the marble extracted in Helmand is also transported to Kandahar, Kabul, and Herat.
Before the closure of trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Helmand’s marble was exported to Pakistan through the Spin Boldak border crossing. However, following restrictions on movement and trade between the two countries, the transportation of the stone has faced greater difficulties.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s provincial police headquarters in Nangarhar said on Sunday that its security forces had prevented the illegal transportation and smuggling of more than 5,000 kilograms of precious stones in Pachiragam district.
According to Taliban officials, one person was arrested after allegedly attempting to transport the precious stones illegally to Pakistan in a cargo vehicle via Durbaba district.
The prolonged closure of trade and transit routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan has created serious challenges for legal trade between the two countries. Meanwhile, Taliban authorities periodically report intercepting and preventing the smuggling of food and non-food commodities, as well as mineral resources, along routes leading to Pakistan.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
