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The Taliban has stated that China is interested in investing in Afghanistan’s oil and gas industries.
Homyaoon Afghan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, has stated that they have facilitated the necessary infrastructure for potential investors.
“The minister thanked the investors and said that Afghanistan is rich in gas and oil and it is expected that in the near future there will be announced the extraction of gas and oil in some areas,” he said.
According to a report by Tolo News, in January, the Taliban government in Afghanistan signed an agreement with a Chinese firm to extract oil from the Amu Darya basin in an effort to boost the Kabul economy.
The Taliban and China signed the agreement at a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both sides, including Chinese Ambassador Wang Yi. During the initial three-year period, more than $540 million will be invested in exploration, according to Afghanistan’s acting mines and petroleum minister Shahabuddin Delawar.
The ACIM emphasized the significance of foreign investment in boosting national income and generating job opportunities for the Afghan people.
“This is a good opportunity for Chinese companies and also for Afghanistan… This is a good opportunity both for Afghanistan and China,” said Sakhi Ahmad Payman, deputy head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industry and Mines (ACIM).
China has reportedly invested around USD 2 billion in Afghanistan after the fall of the previous government, as per the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Though the Taliban have not been officially recognized by any country, China has significant investments in the region. As Afghanistan’s funds remain frozen, the country is seeking investments to boost its economy.
Violence in Afghanistan is not solely caused by the Taliban, as groups like the Islamic State (IS) also perpetrate violence. China has two main objectives regarding Afghanistan: to maintain domestic stability, including control over the Xinjiang region and to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a base for Uyghur militants; and to safeguard its significant foreign direct investments in regional countries, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
As China has increased its presence in the region, violence against Chinese interests by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has also risen. While China is willing to take on risks, it has responded to these incidents in order to send a message.
