According to a report published on Wednesday (January 27) by Afghanistan’s National Television and cited by IRAF News Agency, the Taliban’s Panjshir provincial media office stated that technical and expert teams from the group’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum have, during their latest assessments, succeeded in identifying ten new ruby mines within the boundaries of Hese-ye-Awal district.
The statement added that dispatched specialists and engineers confirmed the existence of these mines following on-site geological evaluations.
According to local Taliban officials, in addition to this new discovery, the official extraction process of the Tourmaline mine has also begun in the districts of Abshar and Anaba.
The Taliban described these measures as part of their plans for the “organized management and systematic exploitation” of Panjshir’s natural resources.
Panjshir province is considered one of Afghanistan’s most significant regions in terms of precious stone reserves, particularly emeralds and rubies. In recent years, various reports have indicated that the region holds substantial potential for the production of high-value gemstones.
Since taking control of Panjshir, the Taliban have repeatedly announced the discovery of new mines, stating that dozens of technical teams have been deployed to study the province’s geological structure.
According to these reports, in areas such as Pariyan and Hese-ye-Awal, dozens to hundreds of new emerald mines have been identified, some of which have already entered the extraction phase.
Some Taliban officials have even claimed that more than 1,000 emerald mines have so far been confirmed in Panjshir, with hundreds of extraction licenses issued.
International geological studies also confirm that Panjshir emeralds rank among the world’s finest gemstones in terms of quality, clarity, and color, and have a dedicated clientele in international markets.
The mountainous and hard-to-access land of these mines has made extraction difficult, a factor that further increases the economic value of the region’s gemstones.
