Karim Khurram: Afghanistan’s Gold Being Sold to Low-Level Foreign Traders

DID Press: Afghanistan’s former minister of information and culture says the country’s gold is being exported instead of added to national reserves.

Referring to the unprecedented rise in global gold prices, Khurram said gold extracted in northern Afghanistan is largely being sold to low-level foreign traders and taken out of the country.

He noted that under current global conditions — including wars, geopolitical tensions, Western sanctions, and economic volatility — gold has become increasingly valuable as a safe-haven asset.

Khurram added that efforts by BRICS countries to reduce the dominance of the U.S. dollar have prompted many states to increase their gold reserves.

“It would have been better for Afghanistan’s gold to be added to the country’s domestic reserves after extraction,” Khurram said, stressing that gold mines should not be managed like ordinary mines, as their value goes beyond that of a regular commodity.