Afghanistan sitting on a gold mine

The USGS estimates there are about 700 billion cubic metres of gas and 300 million tonnes of oil across several northern provinces.

KABUL — Afghanistan is sitting on a wealth of mineral reserves — perhaps the richest in the region — that offer hope for a country mired in poverty after decades of war, the mining minister says.

Significant deposits of copper, iron, gold, oil and gas, and coal — as well as precious gems such as emeralds and rubies — are largely untapped and still being mapped, Mohammad Ibrahim Adel told AFP.

And they promise prosperity for one of the world’s poorest countries, the minister said, dismissing concerns that a Taliban-led insurgency may thwart efforts to unearth this treasure.

Already in the pipeline is the exploitation of a massive copper deposit — one of the biggest in the world — about 30 kilometres (20 miles) east of Kabul.

“There has not been such a big project in the history of Afghanistan,” Adel said.

A 30-year lease for the Aynak copper mine was in November offered to the China Metallurgical Group Corporation and the contract is being finalised.

“It is estimated that the Aynak deposit has more than 11 million tonnes (of copper),” he said, citing 1960s surveys by the Soviet Union and a new study by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

“With today’s prices, it contains an 88-billion-dollar deposit,” he said.

The mine is expected to bring the government 400 million dollars annually in fees and taxes, Adel said.

That is on top of an 800-million-dollar downpayment from the developer who has also committed to build a railway line, a power plant and a village for workers, complete with schools, clinics and roads.

About 5,000 jobs will be created and mining is expected to start in five years. “Up to 40 percent of the income will pour into our pockets,” Adel said.

The colossal Aynak project represents, however, only a fraction of Afghanistan’s unexploited resources, he said. The scale of the deposits is still being charted.

The USGS is carrying out a nationwide survey of mineral wealth and oil and gas deposits that is expected to be completed in a year, Adel said.

Studies of only 10 percent of the country have discovered abundant deposits of copper, iron, zinc, lead, gold, silver, gems, salt, marble and coal, the ministry says.

The USGS estimates there are about 700 billion cubic metres of gas and 300 million tonnes of oil across several northern provinces.

A Soviet survey estimated there are more than two billion tonnes of iron reserves, the ministry says.

One of the best known iron deposits is at Haji Gak, 90 kilometres west of Kabul.

“If everything goes as we desire, Haji Gak requires two to three billion dollars’ investment,” said the minister.

“Another 100 million to 1.5 billion dollars is needed to explore the gas and oil mines.”

The government plans to offer more projects for private sector tender next year, Adel said.

There is already some mining underway such as ad hoc emerald extraction in the Panjshir valley region northeast of Kabul, where dynamite is used to blow gems out of the ground.

And the ministry has handed two coal mines to private Afghan companies, although they lack standard equipment.

The site for the mine at Aynak, 60 km southeast of Kabul contains the world’s second-biggest unexploited copper deposit with the potential to generate revenue of $1.4 billion a year. Of greatest danger is the threat of toxic waste which has led to environmental damage around copper mines in several countries.
Reuters, Dec.12, 2007

The Aynak contract will be a model for others, with developers expected to put in basic infrastructure as Afghanistan’s power grid is weak and its transport network limited.

There is also the challenge of the insurgency, which overshadows development and has made many areas off-limits to foreign companies.

Writer and analyst Waheed Mujda warned there could be no mining in Taliban-held areas, which are mostly in the south, without the permission of the Islamic extremists.

“Any kind of agreement with Taliban will have to involve money and that money obviously would finance the insurgency in part,” Mujda told AFP.

But Adel is not concerned. “We can provide security for mining sites simply by hiring a private security company,” he said.

Most of the deposits that have been discovered are in the relatively stable north. There are, however, uranium reserves in the southern province of Helmand, one of the worst for Taliban attacks, the minister said.

The minister’s sights are firmly set on mining bringing his impoverished country a brighter future.

“In five years’ time Afghanistan will not need the world’s aid money,” he said. “In 10 years Afghanistan will be the richest country in the region.”

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iFrOtnNs42obPsi8ul_AHEXmOGzQ

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Hence Proved Emergency in Pakistan was not futile

A bomb blast rocks a city in the NWFP killing a couple of soldiers and civilians; another incident is marred in the most backward province of Pakistan, Sindh, where a train is derailed and scores are killed; although the ‘free’ but irresponsible media claims the lives lost are only 40 and no more. Although, if logically analysed, maximum of 44 people can occupy the seats only in each compartment and 14-16 got derailed. Now that what would spiral the statistics. Moreover, the occasion of Eid which sees overcrowding of passengers in this mode of travel hence, much would be accentuated at the ground level. What we see is what they want to show.

Hence proved, emergency was a cushion against the unseen and the anticipated. The unseen but terrorising elements, necessarily sponsored through foreign lobbies, kept squirming to reel out their acts in the open to paint a destabilised picture of Pakistan. But those 42 days of so-called captivity proved to be quite serene. But not even a single day, did media rest with its foul shenanigans. It sounded as if media was handed over to the Gitmo administration for 50 years. But 42 days of isolation were divine, like those of Abraham who was put to test in the fire which lit for 40 days.

Hence proved, emergency was healthy but not for GEO which kept the propaganda going for all these days. GEO kept Jinnah alive and it sounded through those excerpts that he said nothing for civilians but for Journalists for the years he lived and endeavoured and that Pakistan is not for anyone save journalists. And what a sham. Financially (read burger and cheap chips) sponsoring children were brought in from local small schools to stage a protest where the protesters could be counted on fingers. The famous Davis road, at the main gates of The Jang office were these protesters gathering just in minions, which didn’t cause a ripple and mosquitoes don’t cause revolutions but are a nuisance. Same was the naive attitude of GEO as if wailing like a child to have its services restored. Almost a month and some more, gagging of the media didn’t cause life in Pakistan to be arrested. Ground realities and life on the road and behind the scenes was normal. Life went on as usual.

Now some more on this ‘bloody’ eid; the same game is being upped again for the elections, making it monotonous a routine. Last time, the turnout was 23%, the same can be expected this time also. Simple civilians have one vote, the crooks, the paid gangsters of the cities have 100,000 votes per crook employed by the party he is working with. So the level field game is much again the same. Renewed promises but never delivered. Alas the Pakistani civilians are too weak and frail to rise even their heads to think as to how their wishes are manipulated.

If the lawyers wanted some change, a mass level intellectual movement should have been mobilised to cause a ruckus in the political baloon. Benazir trips over on the issue of restoration of the judiciary (read – anti P.C.O panel) as she brings in the Washington devised mandate. Nawaz comes in with the same or polished mandate. Old car but new polish and people are taken for the ride and pillion ride is not allowed but Nawaz and Benazir are on the same bandwagon.

Paradoxical are their motives. People who were given chances not once but twice, didn’t prove then, how can they be expected to be pariah this time. Did Bibi happen to visit the angels of the seventh skies to have soul washed? Nopes she was on the cloud #9 which rains on the roofs of the White House. While Nawaz is the poodle to Benazir as was Blair of Bush’s.

Pakistan civilians are in for yet another ride. The same cycle renews every 7-8 years. Hence proved, memory if not touched with corruption and news for 7-8 years tends to lose on information prior to 7-8 years. One advice for the Pakistan civilians, with the entry of either Bibi or Nawaz, prices are not plummeting. Petrol is not to be for PKR 2 and Tomatoes for PKR 3.

Hence proved, the Black emergency was benign from what is to come.

20.Dec.2007

Just a note on Gulgee. His death, very tragic but what ‘terrorism’ could he have caused at the very frail age of 83? And that he was brutally murdered. Possible link to this could be India which wants Pakistan to be at a compromising position and herself have the greater share of the cake everytime and everywhere. Gulgee with the international repute had a stupendous impact or footprint in the arts industry. India too boasts talent but cannot bear to see Pakistan leveling it any time. Thus every industry sees rot recently, irrespective of its nature. Even wheat is being imported and local market being discouraged to promote bilateral relations which India less cares about.

Moreso, his death also comes at a point when the train derailment incident was in the news. It was feared that the casualty reported might go spiraling and GEO might be on a vengeance mode against the Government and might want to level some scores of the Emergency Plus. Thus to cover up and neutralise the  effect of the train accident, Gulgee had to come under the Guillotine. Poor Soul. This could be another possibility.

The Angel Sheds the Uniform and Emergency II

Loser at the moment stands out to be, unfortunately, Imran Khan, who however has gained momentum in the Student circles who aspire and greatly desire change at all levels including theirs. But yet again, the cards are drawn and known at the higher levels. Levels which are incomprehensible, as garbs of deceit and conspiracy blended with ulterior hypocrisy is the norm in the parliament of Pakistan including the constitution. Blotched at every nook and to the core.

The revolutionary guards too have a history which took birth from the Universities, but status quo of Pakistan is much more different. Different classes, different languages, difference of provinces, has drawn up the stealth lines between the very people sharing the same ideology. The ideology which may not be obsolete but has taken the back seat or pushed back. And pushed back so diligently and between the crevices of inflation, disorder, corruption, the masses have been efficiently duped and reduced into a herd of sheep destined to the slaughter house and then reborn again to repeat the cycles.

Yet again, with the upcoming elections on January 8, for which the international lobbies have made it like their ‘own’ mandate, Lord knows how, but however they are keen to change to their aspirations; aspiration which wouldn’t go in the favour of Pakistan. On the forefront being America (read Umreeka Bahadur). On the eve of emergency, which was touted and flayed upon by all and sundry and local columnists labeled it as ‘Emergency Plus’, naive countries like Holland too were on the fore to cut economic relations with Pakistan. Such communities should know the ground realities as to where they are seen and where they should be seen and what standing do they have in the world order. Holland is nothing but Tulips, Tourism and open stalls of Marijuana being sold like caviar like delicacies. Such economies are run on coffee shops and souvenirs.

This very much reflects the lax foreign policy of Pakistan. It can’t be offensive when it has the Bomb. The much feared but still an asset for the Muslim world, but nonetheless always on target, whether being a press conference or some army base off the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The real concern right now making round is this capability; and capability of Pakistan ‘only’. Right reserved. Musharraf is quite very right in preserving the slogan, ‘Pakistan First’.

So now, even after the very coy tactic of getting the book, Military Inc. out on racks, the military gave a cold shoulder and the book was buried and Aisha Siddiqa, the championed author of the publication was nonetheless revealed of her connections with the Indian High Commission and her travel frequencies between India and England. Against Pakistan, the troika of England, India, America is very much rotating around the ideology of bringing Pakistan at a compromising position. But Pakistan Military was quite deft in playing her cards carefully; controlling the inert rifts caused through the connivance of the politicians who have gone beyond conviction to show their insincerity to Pakistan and more carnal affiliation with the earnings through the private means to disrupt the Pakistani show.

But why Pakistan is in focus. Why Pakistan on target? This question CANNOT be answered by the oft faith selling politicians. Only the sincere brass, unfortunately, the military has the answer. Its quite unfortunate for the military to be on the cross roads every time there was a calamity. And foreign lobbies left no stone unturned to criss-cross military with evil motives.

Even if assumed military is no good, neither are the politicians minus Imran Khan.

And a word for the media, not much different from the political echelons. GEO projected itself to be another purchasable, off the rack and non nationalist commercial item. Freedom for GEO is like allowing the llamas to run wild in the city when maps are not made for them. Strict measures ought to be taken to have an eagle’s eye on them. Benazir, who claims herself to be ‘too’ secular, didn’t allow media to drag her facts out in the open. Then why is it the military deviled when he allowed much more freedom. Double standards don’t work in the West but they are exported here.

One message to the West – Import our politicians in your system, and then we’ll see whether you flourish or wait for Japan to reprimand you with sanctions every now and then; and then we would allow your inspectors to comment and supervise our elections. When you can train our military men to your advantage why not the politicians? Although Jinnah, the veteran didn’t have to take any from you. Period.