Gold rush in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province impacts environment and economy

The Taliban government has significantly expanded Afghanistan's mining sector to boost state revenue amid being deprived of most international aid. In the northeastern Badakhshan province, a massive gold rush is occurring, particularly in the Shiwa area, where an estimated 10,000 miners are active. The World Bank reported that mining contracts have grown at an average annual rate of 25 to 30 percent since 2021.

However, this industrial expansion is causing severe environmental and social disruption. Local residents report that mining activities have contaminated rivers, making the water undrinkable and unusable for washing. The resulting dust and landscape changes have also harmed agriculture and livestock grazing. For example, one local farmer noted that his ability to raise goats has decreased significantly as riverbank grass has disappeared and dust prevents crops from growing.