Mardef bin Ali Al-Qashouti, Qatar’s ambassador in Kabul to Afghanistan, met with Taliban minister of mines and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri to discuss political and economic relations between the two sides, investment opportunities in Afghanistan’s mining sector particularly in oil and gas and the establishment of a standard refinery for processing crude oil.
In a statement issued on August 30, the Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said the meeting also focused on investment opportunities in Afghanistan’s mineral resources and ways to establish a standard crude oil refinery.
According to the statement, Hedayatullah Badri welcomed Qatar’s interest in investing in the mining and petroleum sectors and assured the Qatari side of his support for all forms of cooperation in these areas.
Qatar, which hosted peace talks between the United States and the Taliban before the collapse of Afghanistan’s former republican government, has still not formally recognized the Taliban government.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that over the past five years, mining activities in various parts of Afghanistan have continued in an unregulated and unsustainable manner. Analysts say that illegal mining and extraction practices that fail to meet international standards have contributed to environmental degradation, the depletion of natural resources, and violations of local communities’ rights.
Experts emphasize that mining activities should be conducted in accordance with international standards, with transparency and fairness, while ensuring environmental protection and respecting the rights of local residents.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
