Islamabad: Taliban has arrested two Chinese nationals from Jalalabad city in Afghanistan for attempting to smuggle rare earth lithium to Pakistan. Heavy stones weighing 1000 tonnes have been seized. It is the first instance wherein the Taliban has taken any action since gaining power.
The US agencies have claimed Afghanistan has huge reserves of minerals worth one trillion dollars, including rare earth minerals like lithium and gold. Lithium has been widely used in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries which has a huge demand worldwide. China is a major consumer of lithium. Until the US military was posted in Afghanistan, rare earth minerals mining continued. However, since the Taliban regime took over in 2021, they have banned mining and exports of minerals. Over the last 18 months, the Chinese communist party has tried to establish relations with the Taliban regime. With the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan, China is pursuing to get mining contracts.
China has tried to entrench their people in various development projects in Afghanistan. Taliban has sustained a ban on mining minerals, and unless the international community recognise the Taliban regime, the export of minerals will not be allowed. In such a scenario, news of Chinese nationals getting arrested for smuggling lithium is getting attention.
Mohammad Rasool Akab, minister of Minerals and Energy of the Taliban regime, informed the local media about the incident of the arrest of Chinese nationals trying to smuggle 1000 tons of stones containing lithium from the mines of Kunar and Nuristan province near the Pakistan border. Five people, including two Chinese citizens, have been detained in Jalalabad near the Pakistan border.
Meanwhile, terrorist attacks on Chinese nationals have been rising in Afghanistan, while China is demanding the Taliban provide security. The arrests of Chinese citizens for smuggling rare minerals are damaging China’s image.
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