US-funded project supported illegal mining, Afghan watchdog alleges

A project in Afghanistan funded by the US Defense Department provided equipment and money to a local police commander for the illegal extraction of chromite, an Afghan anti-corruption watchdog alleged Sunday.

The commander of the Afghan Local Police, a village protection force, in the eastern province of Kunar, extracted the chromite for more than a year, said Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) in a report.

It warned that such practices could "fuel local conflicts" and lead to "devastating consequences," and asked the Afghan government to investigate the illegal mining.

The group alleged that the commander was supported by the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO), a project of the Defense Department aimed at supporting local businesses in conflict-prone areas.

The official was given a crusher, equipment for storage and transport, among other material, the report said. TFBSO also opened a bank account for the commander so he could register a new company for the mining, it claimed.

TFBSO officials were not immediately available for comment.

"Extraction of minerals by local police is against Afghan laws ... It is the responsibility of police to protect natural resources from illegal exploitation," said Sayed Ikram Afzali, IWA's director of advocacy.

"One of the long-lasting negative impacts of illegal extraction of the mining by local police would be the evolution of organized crime networks financed by illegal mining in the country," Afzali said