Key Minerals of Afghanistan: Kazakhstan and Afghanistan Discuss Mining of Aquamarine and Zinc
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin stated that Kazakhstan intends to utilize its domestic facilities to process industrial-grade aquamarine and zinc ore from Afghanistan. Zhumangarin made these remarks during talks held in Kabul with Afghanistan's acting Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund and acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar.
As an industrial and technological hub, Kazakhstan holds a pivotal position in mining and metallurgy across Central Asia.
According to the Kazakh government, the country is one of the few nations in the world possessing professional technical expertise in processing industrial-grade aquamarine—a beryllium-containing mineral. In this context, Kazakh enterprises have shown growing interest in developing Afghanistan’s mineral resources and industrial projects.
Per information from Kazakhstan’s government press office, during discussions with Afghan deputy officials, Kazakhstan raised the issue of transporting Afghan minerals to Kazakhstan for processing.
Last October, experts from Kazakhstan’s state-owned mining company Tau-Ken Samruk visited Bamyan Province in Afghanistan and collected samples from the Pami-Kakrak zinc deposit.
Subsequent chemical analysis by Kazzinc company experts confirmed that the ore can, in principle, be processed at facilities in Kazakhstan.
Zhumangarin said: "We are interested in importing zinc ore from Afghanistan. Kazakh enterprises possess the necessary professional capabilities in technical upgrades, engineering design, equipment supply, and commissioning support."
One of the world’s largest ferrochrome producers—Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) of Kazakhstan—has also expressed interest in exploring and developing Afghanistan’s ferrochrome deposits.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in transportation and logistics.
Zhumangarin stated: "We support the construction of the 'Central Asia–South Asia' transit corridor through Afghanistan, which could handle up to 10 million tons of cargo, connecting to Karachi and Gwadar ports in Pakistan. Additionally, we are prepared to join partners from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in participating in railway construction linking Mazar-i-Sharif and Turgundi to Herat."
According to data from the Kazakh government, bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan reached $541.8 million in 2025, with authorities aiming to increase trade volume to $3 billion in the short term.
This meeting is part of a broader policy by Kazakhstan to engage in pragmatic contacts with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, focusing on trade, transit transport, mining, humanitarian aid, and education—rather than seeking formal diplomatic recognition. Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from its list of prohibited organizations in 2023, while continuing to view Afghanistan as a potential export market and a possible transit route for Central Asian goods en route to South Asian ports.
Earlier reports from *Central Asia Times* indicated that Kazakh geologists visited Afghanistan in April 2025, collecting ore samples from prospective sites in Nuristan Province containing beryllium, lead, and zinc.
Author: Dmitry Pokidaev
Original: toutiao.com/article/1868932044246026/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.