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Afghanistan faces the daunting prospect of a drastic reduction in foreign aid, which currently makes up about 90 percent of the country's revenue. Some have seen an economic life raft in geological surveys that indicate huge deposits of copper, iron, uranium and lithium in various parts of the country. But multinational mining firms have been slow to invest in Afghanistan — not least because of questions about stability after American troops draw down. Full story
Qais Usyan / AFP - Getty Images
Young Afghan miners take a rest at a coal mine in Samangan province, north of Kabul on April 3, 2012. Afghanistan is believed to have mineral reserves worth as much as 3 trillion USD which could theoretically generate billions of dollars in tax revenue for the troubled country.
Qais Usyan / AFP - Getty Images
An Afghan miner unloads coal from his donkeys outside a coal mine in Samangan province.
Qais Usyan / AFP - Getty Images
An Afghan miner walks with his donkey loaded with coal outside a coal mine in Samangan province.
Qais Usyan / AFP - Getty Images
An Afghan miner works inside a coal mine in Samangan province.
More PhotoBlog posts about Afghanistan
More photos from Afghanistan in our slideshow: Nation at a crossroads
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Tribal elders: "If you work very hard, someday, you too will be able to afford your own suicide vest to blow people up".
US Army engineers found deposits of rare earth elements (used for high tech products like your cell phone, etc. and in short supply globally) and other mineral deposits there estimated to be worth billions. President Karzai's brother then sold the mining rights for 300 million dollars (to his private bank account) to the Chinese who are currently mining there (while our troops protect them).
The photos look like abusive child labor. Could be another variation of "Blood Diamonds".
I'm sorry but tell me again: "Why are we in Afganistan?"
Seems ideas have a hard time reaching these people as well. The knowledge of the world may take it's time getting to Afghanistan, but nothing is preventing the world from bring these people to technology and training them in an environment where the trainers feel more secure.
Not our problem.
Get out now.
Truth is, if China winds up controlling the vast resources of this country, it WILL be our problem as they (like it or not) are our primary source of finished goods. It's too bad it is such a bass-ackwards country with so many genuinely ignorant people.
I have a hard time believing the last picture is one of an Afghan miner. He looks alot more like a coal miner from the US.
And another al Queida wil arise to oust the Chinese and we will be training the oppostion with tax dollars and another version of the stinger missles. This reminds me of the mineral rights stole out under many citizens of the US and elsewhere. Wonder if the Afghans even know the Chinese are knocking at the door and they are the BIG LOSERS. They hate the West...what about the East?!
China already controls 97% of the worlds rare minerals used for our electronics. We need to find deposits in our own country!
There certainly is one thing about it.. the Chinese know how to crack down on indigenous citizens and bring them into the fold of the world market.. and nothing to worry about.. the Chinese new economy would be nothing without a customer.. so.. being a huge customer.. we have nothing to lose.. and everything to gain!