MoMP to create the “Mines Protection Committee” soon

KABUL (SW):  Officials at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said that a committee to protect mines across the country is about to be set up soon.

At a news conference today in Kabul, Nargis Nehan, the head of the MoMP said the committee will be formed in cooperation with security agencies.

According to Nehan, the purpose of the establishment of such committee is to review all security issues and other issues related to mining in Afghanistan.

The decision to form the MPC was taken after an international research organization released its report showing that armed opposition groups, especially Taliban and IS groups have been involved in extracting the mines illegally to support their operations in Afghanistan.

The report also showed that the Taliban and IS groups have been extracting the Talc stones and smuggling those out of the country in recent years.

The report also estimated that the Taliban earn $300 million from Talc Stones a year and IS groups estimably earned hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

ENDS