In a significant development, the ruling Afghan Taliban government, which prefers to be called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has commenced work on the long-anticipated Mes Aynak project in Logar province. The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, inaugurated the road construction for the Mes Aynak project today, as reported by the office of the economic deputy PM.
The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture of China, the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, and a range of Afghan ministers and high-ranking officials.
In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund underscored the project’s crucial significance and stressed the urgency of commencing practical work without further delays, due to previous setbacks.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund also assured officials from the Chinese contracting company, MCC, that Afghanistan possesses the necessary materials to neutralize toxic substances during processing. He confirmed that this issue has been thoroughly addressed, with no obstacles remaining for the project’s practical implementation.
He also instructed Da Afghanistan Bank to facilitate the transfer of necessary funds to the contracting company to ensure the project’s smooth execution. In his closing remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister assured full security for the contracting company and congratulated the nation on the start of practical work for this major project.
The launch of the Mes Aynak project highlights China’s commitment to investing in Afghanistan and expanding its support for the ruling government. This move is seen as more than just an economic partnership and is considered a significant strategic shift in the region.
