The Taliban administration has offered U.S. companies access to Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources as it seeks to improve relations with Washington, secure sanctions relief and gain access to frozen Afghan assets.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Kabul would welcome American investment in mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade. He described Afghanistan’s economic policy as open and said future relations with the United States should focus on economic cooperation rather than the legacy of the past two decades of war.
Afghanistan is estimated to possess at least $1 trillion in mineral resources, including major deposits of copper, lithium, cobalt, gold, iron ore and other minerals. Much of this wealth remains largely undeveloped because of limited infrastructure, investment challenges and decades of conflict.
The Taliban’s outreach comes as the administration attempts to reduce Afghanistan’s diplomatic and economic isolation. Kabul is also seeking relief from sanctions and access to billions of dollars in Afghan central-bank reserves held abroad.
However, major differences remain between Washington and Kabul. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for the return of Bagram Air Base, a demand the Taliban has rejected. Taliban officials have described Bagram and other military and civilian facilities as national assets that are not part of any economic arrangement.
The Taliban also continues to face international criticism over severe restrictions imposed on women and girls, creating additional obstacles to deeper diplomatic engagement with the United States.