31.08.2026 09:20
The Taliban has made a notable investment appeal to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Stating that it is ready to open Afghanistan's mineral reserves, valued at least $1 trillion, to American companies, the Taliban leadership has signaled cooperation in mining, infrastructure, and trade. The Taliban also calls for the lifting of sanctions and the release of billions of dollars in Afghan assets frozen abroad.
The Taliban, which returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, has made a striking move to open a new chapter in its relations with the US. Speaking to the Financial Times, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi invited the Trump administration to invest in the country's vast underground resources.
Muttaqi argued that relations with the US should be assessed not based on the 20-year war period but on potential future cooperation.
BLANK CHECK FOR MINES TO THE US
Mining tops the list of investment areas the Taliban administration has offered to the US. Muttaqi stated they would welcome American companies' investments in the mining, infrastructure, agriculture, and trade sectors, adding that Afghanistan's economic policy is open to foreign investment.
In June, a meeting was held in Kabul between the Taliban's Deputy Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Abdul Rahman Qanit, and the President of the Afghanistan-US Joint Chamber of Commerce, Jeffrey Grieco, to discuss attracting American investment to Afghanistan's mining sector.
AT LEAST $1 TRILLION WEALTH UNDERGROUND
According to geological surveys conducted by the US and the former Western-backed Afghan government, Afghanistan holds at least $1 trillion worth of mineral reserves underground.
The country is estimated to have significant reserves of critical minerals such as copper, iron ore, cobalt, gold, lithium, and niobium. However, due to decades of war and inadequate infrastructure, most of these resources have not yet been exploited.
TALIBAN MADE $7 BILLION MINING DEALS
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban administration has announced mining investments exceeding $7 billion, particularly with countries including China and Iran. The agreements cover resources such as gold, precious stones, and chromite, which is used in steel production.
The Taliban's attempt to attract the US to the country is seen as a significant step in its effort to re-establish relations with Washington.
IN RETURN, IT WANTS SANCTIONS LIFTED
Behind the Taliban's economic outreach to Washington lie sanctions and frozen Afghan assets.
According to estimates from the Central Bank of Afghanistan, approximately $9.5 billion of the country's reserves are held abroad. Around $7 billion of this is in the US. The Taliban administration argues that these assets should not be used as a tool of political pressure and demands their release.
ALSO CALLS FOR THE US EMBASSY TO REOPEN
The Taliban's messages to Washington are not limited to mining investments. Muttaqi also requested that the US reopen its embassy in Kabul, which it closed in 2021.
Muttaqi has previously stated that the US could re-establish its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and invest in the country's mines, dams, and roads.
BAGRAM IS ON TRUMP'S AGENDA
Despite the Taliban's economic rapprochement messages, serious disagreements persist between Washington and Kabul. Trump has previously raised the issue of the Bagram Air Base returning to US control.
The Taliban, however, has closed the door on this demand. Muttaqi opposed handing over the base to the US, stating that military and civilian facilities in Afghanistan, including Bagram, are national assets of the country.
Meanwhile, the issue of detained American citizens between the US and the Taliban continues to be one of the significant topics hindering relations. US sources have previously indicated that progress on this issue could pave the way for talks on critical minerals and broader economic ties.
HUMAN RIGHTS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES
Despite the Taliban's pursuit of economic and diplomatic outreach, severe restrictions on women's access to education, work, and participation in public life remain among the most significant obstacles to international relations.
Foreign diplomats speaking to the Financial Times noted that potential investors would also have to take into account UN and Western sanctions on senior Taliban figures. UN experts, meanwhile, believe that any steps toward normalizing relations with the Taliban should be tied to measurable progress on the rights of women and girls.
It remains unclear for now how the Trump administration will respond to the Taliban's offer to open up over $1 trillion in underground wealth to US investments.