This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows a general view of a gold mine at Gulak-Dara valley in Shiwa area of Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows Afghan miners separating dirt and stones from gold nuggets at Gulak-Dara valley in Shiwa area of Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on August 4, 2026 shows an Afghan goldsmith holding gold at a workshop in Fayzabad, in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by OMER ABRAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows an Afghan miner pouring water over a sieve to separate dirt and stones from gold nuggets at Gulak-Dara valley in Shiwa area of Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on August 4, 2026 shows an Afghan goldsmith melting gold at a workshop in Fayzabad, in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by OMER ABRAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows Afghan miners excavating a mountain to extract gold at Gulak-Dara valley in Shiwa area of Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 27, 2026 shows Taliban Director of Mines in Badakhshan, Abdul Matin Rahimzai (C) during an interview with AFP at his office in Fayzabad, in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This satellite photograph taken on July 18, 2021 by 2026 Planet Labs PBC shows a mining site between mountains in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Handout / 2026 Planet Labs PBC / AFP via Getty Images) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / © 2026 PLANET LABS PBC" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS -EXISTING WATERMARKS MAY NOT BE REMOVED/CROPPED