Talking nice with the Taliban to mine in Afghanistan

Mining is the answer to Afghanistan’s political problems.  If you believe that, I also have a nice bridge for sale that will speed your morning commute.  I did not make up the idea that mining could save Afghanistan from itself and, more significantly, the Taliban and poppy growers.  In the first part of a restricted article at the Economist’s website I found this–the text that follows, not the photo which I copy from flickr :

A mile below the surface in the Karkar coalmine in the Afghan province of Baghlan, the miners toil amid the ominous sound of cracking and splintering wood. The state-run mine was founded in 1939 but relies on medieval technology. There is no electrical cutting equipment, so soot-covered men work with pickaxes. And ever since the steel roof-supports ran out a decade ago, wooden ones have been used instead. But they do not last long under the subterranean pressure. “We fear the collapse of the galleries above all else,” says Latif, one of the mine’s engineers. Each pine log must be replaced every three days. Accidents are a routine occurrence.  Such is the current state of the mining industry in Afghanistan, which has around 200 mines, some of which are still under the control of local warlords. Yet mining is now regarded as the impoverished country’s best prospect for economic development.…

Further on the possibilities of mining, I quote the Afghanistan Minister of Mine who is quoted in the Mining Journal special issue on mining in that war-torn country:

The Government regards the development of  Afghanistan’s natural resources as the most important driver of economic growth, and essential to the reconstruction and development of the country. In order to achieve this growth, Afghanistan must become established as a globally competitive and attractive destination for investment in mineral and hydrocarbon exploration. Development of these resources must be effectively regulated to promote a healthy and sustainable industry for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan.

If you have the humanitarian urge to help by developing a mine (not one that goes bang) in Afghanistan, try the webpage of the Afghanistan Geological Survey. which notes:

Afghanistan remains extremely poor and highly dependent on aid with living standards amongst the lowest in the world. However, growing political stability and continued international commitment to Afghanistan’s reconstruction create an optimistic outlook for maintaining improvements to the economy over the coming years.

The folk who write this kind of stuff must have a degree from Harvard in communications and publicity!

Still mining in Afghanistan would preclude the need to mine in parts of Canada claimed by First Nations groups who I notice were even disrupting Easter services here in Vancouver.   Some folk just do not know when they have lost a war.  I mean the Taliban of course.  Although maybe there will always be young men everywhere ready to fight–as long as they see potential success where they can prosper and breed.  And young men lead by evil old men generally have no regard for laws, courts, treaties, or foreigners.  Of for that matter, lost battles and the imposition of the benefits of western civilization. 

The opportunities, for mining, are there–see this link for a glowing report that tells us: 

Large natural gas deposits in northern Afghanistan were exploited jointly with the USSR starting in 1967. In the 1980s large quantities of natural gas were exported to the USSR, but that was terminated after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. Afghanistan is the world’s only source of high-grade lapis lazuli and has major copper and iron deposits. However, most resources have not been exploited.

In this morning’s Globe and Mail and on their website,is a report of interviews with Taliban fighters.  Poor lads seem to be suffering from air strikes and the destruction of poppy fields.  Seems if only they could go back to the good old ways of exporting poppies to undermine the moral of the infidels, all would be peace again.  What a wonderful opportunity for mining: supplant poppy growing as the primary activity of innocent Taliban youth.  Funny how the Canadian press can make even a terrorist seem respectable.  Funny that they never interview the political prisoners in Cuba though.   Sorry Canadian mining is pretty well established in Cuba, so no need to worry about that issue.  Now if only we can make nice with those Taliban fellows intent on mining. 

I promise I am not making any of this up.  I just string together a few news reports and find the wonder of human nature as it tries to make best use of local resources to survive.