Afghanistan: Taliban Send Delegation to Probe Takhar Gold Mine Clash

Jan 6, 2026 | Ahmad Azizi
Amu TV
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The Taliban-run mines ministry said on Tuesday that a delegation has been sent to the northeastern province of Takhar to investigate deadly clashes over a gold mine.

Humayoun Afghan, the Taliban spokesman for the ministry, said a “joint delegation” led by the Taliban governor of Takhar had been dispatched to Chah Ab district to examine the incident. He said the clashes had resulted in deaths and injuries but did not give exact figures.

Residents of Chah Ab held a protest on Monday, saying they would resist what they described as “theft and looting” and accusing authorities of ignoring their concerns.

Locals have repeatedly complained about mining practices in the area, saying extraction activities have damaged homes and farmland. They have staged several protests against the Taliban and the contracting company operating the site.

According to local sources, at least six people — including five residents and one employee of the mining company — were killed in the clashes, while 16 others were wounded.

The dispute centres on the Samti gold mine in Chah Ab district, which the Taliban awarded to a Chinese company in May 2024. The company committed to invest $310 million in the project.

The Samti mine is located near the Noor Aba gold mine, with estimated reserves of between 12 and 24 tonnes of gold.