An Afghan soldier guards the former US air base at Bagram
The Afghan government has announced plans to convert some former foreign military bases into business zones.
Afghanistan has faced a deepening economic and humanitarian crisis since the Taliban regained control of the country in August 2021.
Foreign forces had been in the country for two decades.
The decision was announced by Deputy Economy Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Sunday.
“It was decided that the Ministry of Industry and Trade should gradually take control of the remaining foreign military bases with the intention of converting them into special economic zones,” Mullah Baradar said.
He added that the project will start with sites in the capital Kabul and in the northern province of Balkh, but gave no further details.
“The Taliban urgently need to increase their coffers if they are to govern better and gain some domestic legitimacy,” Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman of Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies told the BBC.
“More importantly, the Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to economic planning. This includes establishing safe zones near the capital and the borders for potential foreign investors like the Chinese… and reviving regional trade with neighboring countries,” he added.
Afghanistan is estimated to have more than $1 trillion (£831.5 billion) worth of natural resources, including natural gas, copper and rare earth elements.
However, many of these reserves remain untapped due to decades of unrest in the country.
In August 2021, the last US military flight departed Kabul Airport, marking the end of a 20-year presence in Afghanistan and America’s longest war.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions more.
Since the withdrawal of foreign forces, Afghanistan’s finances have been hit by a number of other important problems. Sanctions have been imposed on members of the government, the central bank’s foreign assets have been frozen and most foreign aid – which previously supported its economy – has been suspended.
Earlier this year, the Taliban announced they would sign a deal with a Chinese company to drill for oil in northern Afghanistan.
The 25-year contract underscores China’s economic commitment to the region.
Beijing has not officially recognized the Afghan Taliban government, but it has significant interests in the country, which lies at the center of a region important to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Launched by Xi Jinping in 2013, the initiative provides funding for emerging economies to build infrastructure such as ports, roads and bridges.
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