…Mining has the potential to generate large amounts of revenue and growth for Afghanistan…Instead, Afghanistan’s riches have proved to be a poison. In Badakhshan, the mines are a prize fought over by armed groups. The government lost control of the lapis mining district more than two years ago to an illegal armed group…The real beneficiaries of mining have been the Taliban, which has flourished in the environment of conflict, weak governance structures and corruption…Badakhshan is also home to a small group who have declared loyalty to the Islamic State…

…With a common border with Afghanistan…China is also well-placed to reduce this threat of conflict…China, as the main market for lapis, has another powerful tool in its hands. Without buyers the armed groups that control the mines will see their power crumble. If Chinese companies, with their government’s support, refuse to import lapis that is mined illegally or contributes to armed groups, it will create an irresistible incentive for reform. This sort of due diligence is precisely what recent Chinese industry guidelines call for. Putting this guidance into practice would benefit not only the Afghan government and the local people, but China as well…