Afghanistan: US supplies security, China reaps benefits

Letter

Afghan Mineral Wealth

Published: June 17, 2010

To the Editor:

Re “U.S. Identifies Mineral Riches in Afghanistan” (front page, June 14):
Referring to growing Chinese involvement in Afghanistan’s mineral exploitation, your article rightly pointed out that “American officials fear resource-hungry China will try to dominate the development of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth.”

While the American troops are being killed by the Taliban, China is quietly developing the Loghar copper mines. Why is the Afghan government, considered an American puppet by many, allowing a Chinese state-owned company to develop these resources? The answer: With the Chinese economy booming and the United States mired in a prolonged recession, the demand for copper and other minerals is coming from China.

Moreover, the Chinese market is next door to Afghanistan, while exporting these bulky minerals to the United States will be hugely expensive.

In the emerging new world order, China seems to be poised to exploit resources in troubled countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, while the United States is reduced to providing the security. Afghanistan might have vast mineral resources, but it will be China, not America, that will reap the benefit.

Mahmood Elahi
Ottawa, June 14, 2010