Taliban authorities have arrested 5 males together with two Chinese language nationals over the alleged smuggling of lithium-bearing stones in a foreign country, in response to native sources.

In collaboration with their Afghan allies, two Chinese language nationals had been attempting to smuggle treasured stones from Afghanistan to China by Pakistan.  

Based on sources, the rocks contained 30 p.c lithium, extracted from Nuristan and Kunar, the 2 provinces sharing a border with Pakistan. The smugglers had been arrested in Jalalabad, an jap border metropolis in Afghanistan.

Taliban intelligence personnel mentioned Chinese language nationals in collaboration with their Afghan companions wished to move the dear stones to China by way of Pakistan whereas arrested.

China is without doubt one of the few nations within the area that has maintained shut ties with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities. With the U.S. and its Western allies gone, China discovered the perfect alternative to realize its financial and strategic targets within the war-torn nation by commencing its Highway and Belt initiative.

Nonetheless, safety stays a significant concern for international nationals presently working in Afghanistan. Because the Taliban’s return to energy, terror assaults befell on the Russian Embassy, Pakistan Diplomatic Mission and a Chinese language-Run lodge within the coronary heart of Kabul, ensuing within the dying and damage of scores of individuals together with international nationals.  

Following the fear assault concentrating on a Chinese language-run lodge in Kabul, Beijing suggested the Chinese language to go away Afghanistan instantly. Regardless of the safety threats, China has an intense curiosity in investing in Afghanistan, because the Taliban authorities have already contracted the extraction of the Amu oil area with the Chinese language Highway and Bridge Company (CRBC) final month.

After the withdrawal of the U.S. and worldwide forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, just like Pakistan, Iran, and Russia, China desires to play a central function in issues of Afghanistan, with a specific deal with vitality and building tasks.