Afghanistan’s Taliban government is seeking to attract American investment by offering access to the country’s vast mineral resources, estimated by Afghan authorities at around $1 trillion, as the United States simultaneously strengthens its partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo over strategic minerals.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has invited US companies to invest in Afghanistan’s mining, infrastructure and agricultural sectors, arguing that economic cooperation could replace years of military confrontation between Washington and Kabul.
According to the Taliban government, Afghanistan has signed more than $7 billion worth of mining agreements since it returned to power in 2021. Much of the investment has reportedly come from companies and investors linked to China, Iran and other countries willing to do business with Afghanistan despite its international isolation.
Afghanistan’s vast mineral potential
Afghanistan is believed to possess significant deposits of copper, iron ore, lithium, gold and rare-earth elements, many of which are considered important for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, electronics and military technologies.
However, the widely cited $1 trillion valuation represents an estimate of minerals believed to be underground, rather than proven commercial reserves or the amount that could ultimately be generated from mining.
Many of the deposits still require extensive exploration, feasibility studies and major investments in roads, electricity, processing facilities and other infrastructure.
Political and security concerns, international sanctions and the Taliban government’s limited international recognition also remain significant obstacles to attracting major Western mining companies.
The Taliban’s policies toward women and girls have further complicated its efforts to improve relations with Western governments.
US strengthens mineral ties with Congo
The Taliban’s proposal comes at a time when the United States is seeking greater access to critical minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world's leading sources of cobalt and a major producer of copper.
Under the US-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement, American investors have been granted a right of first offer on certain mining projects placed within Congo’s Strategic Asset Reserve.
When a qualifying US company submits an investment proposal, it can negotiate with the Congolese government for up to nine months before the opportunity is opened to investors from other allied countries.
Congo has also agreed to provide US companies with priority access to certain marketed minerals and to explore the creation of a strategic mineral stockpile in the country.
The partnership places particular importance on the Sakania-Lobito transport corridor, which is expected to play a major role in moving minerals to international markets.
Two different investment opportunities
Afghanistan and Congo are not currently involved in a confirmed competition for the same American mining investments.
Congo already has operating mines, established mineral production and transportation infrastructure linked to the Lobito Corridor. However, the country continues to face challenges including electricity shortages, corruption concerns and armed conflict in parts of the east.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, offers enormous geological potential but lacks much of the infrastructure, legal certainty and international political recognition required by many major Western mining companies.
The Taliban government is also seeking the release of about $9.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets, including approximately $7 billion held in the United States.
US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in regaining access to Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base, but the Taliban has rejected the proposal. Washington has not announced any plans to invest in Afghanistan’s mining sector.
For now, Afghanistan’s mineral offer remains an invitation to American businesses, while Congo has already established a formal framework granting US investors specific commercial advantages in its strategic mining sector.
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