Artisanal gold panners in Afghanistan's Kandahar province report losing their livelihoods as the Taliban administration tightens control over local mining operations.
The shift marks a significant change in the informal extraction sector that has long supplied regional markets with physical gold.
The disruption in Kandahar, a historically vital source of alluvial gold, underscores the fragility of supply chains in conflict-affected regions.
Industry observers note that while access to larger international markets could theoretically boost production and attract investment, the current regulatory environment under the Taliban restricts such opportunities.
Instead, the consolidation of control by local authorities creates bottlenecks for small-scale miners who previously operated with relative autonomy.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the global gold market, which has seen persistent demand signals from physical thefts and smuggling networks elsewhere, such as the recent case in Malawi.