Afghanistan is estimated to have trillions of dollars worth of rare earth metals, and countries — such as China — that may be looking to swoop in

China may align itself with Taliban and try to exploit Afghanistan's rare earth metals, analyst warns

submited by
Style Pass
2021-08-17 10:00:03

Afghanistan is estimated to have trillions of dollars worth of rare earth metals, and countries — such as China — that may be looking to swoop in on the country must follow international terms, one analyst told CNBC.

Shamaila Khan, director of emerging market debt at AllianceBernstein, said the Taliban insurgents have emerged with resources that are a "very dangerous proposition for the world," with minerals in Afghanistan that "can be exploited."

Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Islamist militant group over the weekend, as it seized the capital of Kabul as well as the Presidential Palace. After President Joe Biden's April decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban made stunning battlefield advances — and nearly the whole nation is now under the insurgents' control.

The international community should put pressure on China, for instance, if it seeks to ally itself with the Taliban, Khan added.

Leave a Comment