Afghanistan Times
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Kabul: Iranian official Qadir Qiafeh, deputy head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, has voiced concerns over the smuggling of gemstones from Afghanistan into Iran, as reported by Iranian media outlets. Qiafeh highlighted that these gemstones, sourced from Afghan mines, are illicitly traded within Iranian markets through unofficial channels.
Speaking to an Iranian media outlet, Qiafeh underscored the potential for Iranian investment in Afghan mines, suggesting that collaboration in gemstone extraction could foster bilateral cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan. Despite Qiafeh’s remarks, the Taliban, the governing authority in Afghanistan, has yet to respond to these claims.
Furthermore, Qiafeh revealed that several prominent Iranian mining companies have joined forces to establish a consortium aimed at entering the Afghan mining sector. Additionally, a major Iranian steel company is actively pursuing plans to venture into Afghan mining endeavors.
Highlighting previous negotiations between Iran and Afghanistan on mining-related matters, Qiafeh lamented the absence of financial support from Iranian banks for cross-border projects, citing a deficit of $400 to $500 million. Despite the cordial relations between the Taliban and the Iranian regime post the Taliban’s assumption of power in Afghanistan, Iran, like other nations, refrains from officially recognizing the Taliban but maintains extensive diplomatic and economic ties with the group.
