Locals in Khanshin area of Southern Helmand allege that Pakistan has dug a tunnel from across the Durand Line to their area where from Pakistanis operate and plunder Khanshin gold mines.
Sources told Sayhoon that the government of Pakistan has made a tunnel into Helmand and extracts gold fromKhanshin goldmine. Three days ago news reports flooded media regarding the illegal extraction of 1200 tons of marble per day from Khanshin.
The sources said that now rumors of gold plunder by Pakistan has become talk of the town. Sources added that Pakistan has made a smuggling route through which gold is being smuggled on a massive scale from Loy Rabaat and Sadq districts.
Spokesman of the Minerals and Petroleum Ministry, Abdul Qadar Matfi, told Sayhoon that this was a matter of grave concerns , however, first they will talk to officials in Helmand and after getting information from them then they share it with media.
Matfi added if there is any kind of plunder and smuggling, protecting Afghanistan's natural resources has not been only and only their responsibility but also security forces' duty to protect the mines. Khanshin area of Helmand province is 120 kilometers away from Lashkargah which borders and touches Pakistan and it has mines of uranium, magnet, apatite, and carbonate.
Official documents reveal that the area of marble mines is approximately 8,000 square kilometers. Powerful mafia and smugglers rings are allegedly involved in mineral extractions and smuggle 20-30 trucks of mines into Pakistan whereas every single truck carries 40 tons of stones.
The Taliban collects Rs. 40-85 thousand per truck under custom duty."