The Taleban in Pakistan’s strife-torn district of Swat have taken over operations in its emerald mines. The mines, which produce emeralds of international quality, were previously controlled by the Pakistani government.
They were taken over by the Taleban four months ago following a ceasefire between militants and the government.
Until then, Swat was the scene of 18 months of conflict between the security forces and Taleban militants fighting to implement Islamic Sharia law.
The mines, along with the Panjshir mines in Afghanistan, hold the largest known deposits of emeralds in South Asia. Taleban sympathies
“It is for the benefit of the public that we have reopened the mines,” a senior Taleban commander told the BBC during a visit to the operations.
“They are open to anybody who wishes to mine them as long as they follow our rules.”
Swat’s emerald mines are located in the mountains that ring the district’s main town of Mingora.
The mines cover an area of nearly 8km (4.9 miles).
When fully operational, they yielded a quarter of a million carats of emeralds between 1978 and 1988, according to official statistics.
The last official estimate put the projected yield at about 13.2m carats.
Gemstone dealers say that most emeralds range from just under one carat to just over five.
Prices range from $1,000 to more than $100,000 for a cut stone, depending on the quality.
However, workers at the site told the BBC their average daily wage was only about 400 rupees ($5) per person, after money deducted for paying off the Taleban had been calculated.
“It’s still a good deal as previously all this was going to waste,” one worker said.
Taleban commanders too are positive about its benefits.
“It is a great opportunity for the people, as there is so much poverty and unemployment here,” the Taleban commander said.
According to the terms of the deal, the Taleban take one-third of the yield of each set of miners.
The costs are shared equally by the Taleban and the miners.
The Taleban say they are not directly involved in the operations themselves.
But the rules, which include amputation for theft and strict adherence to Sharia rules, mean only those with strong Taleban sympathies are allowed to operate.
No photos of the workers or the operations were allowed.
But the Taleban did show us their yield for the day, a small packet of clear, dark green gems.
So far the government has made no move to contest the Taleban’s control of the mines.
This is despite the fact that the funds from the emerald operations are likely to be a huge boost to Taleban coffers.
Exactly how those funds will be spent - by militants who believe that international jihad is the only real way of life - does not take a lot of working out.
trust an indian to worry about Pakistan's internal matters ;)
First of all the judiciary was not "removed", in case you didn't know and i'm sure you didn't know swat had a qazi system pre 1970 and people were quite happy with it, cases were resolved in a rapid manner and justice was served quick, and it was cheap. so people only demanded they be given that same system of governance. GoP has only fulfilled the peoples' demands and taken away the "cause" from trouble-making elements who we all know are financed/trained/replenished by anti-pakistan forces.
secondly, the resources of the land belong to the people. if the people have no problem with it, then what is your problem? doesn't india have its own problems to worry about, and poor people to feed, it being the biggest democracy and a growing "regional power" and all...
stop sifting through others trash, and worry about cleaning your own house.
trust an indian to worry about Pakistan's internal matters ;)
First of all the judiciary was not "removed", in case you didn't know and i'm sure you didn't know swat had a qazi system pre 1970 and people were quite happy with it, cases were resolved in a rapid manner and justice was served quick, and it was cheap. .
These jihadi elements are no longer an internal issue of Pakistan ... the area under their control is used by groups to target other countries who dont subscribe to their ideologue.
Your attempts to "window dress" the issue of sharia courts do not cover the fact that the judicial courts had to shut shop under pressure from the Taliban .... period.
secondly, the resources of the land belong to the people. if the people have no problem with it, then what is your problem? .
Regarding the "benefits" for people .... wonder how you will react if MQM starts to "distribute" such "benefits" in a similar fashion :D
Typical Troll phobia and the scripted response "it affects everyone".....why don't u just stroll on back to WA and worry about indian matters. when taliban comes to delhi, then it'll be ur internal matter and we won't interfere either.
^ Aah brother vigo, dont worry, since our indian friend is so fond of talking about the MQM, he is forgetting, we might have the ultimate weapon against the Talibobs, aka Altaf Bhai, but then again so do they! Laloo Prasad Yadav will take on the Talibobs whilst wearing his lungi.
You can expect such dismissive remarks on the dangerous situation from the nawaz leaguers, after all they are the ultimate beneficiaries of the taliban takeover of pakistan.
Didn't the Taliban ever study the teachings of all the prophets? I'm pretty sure I remember reading about the concept of taking an income when YOU did the work.
