Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Afghanistan Urges US Investment as Sanctions and Projects Stall
Afghanistan wants the United States to help build businesses and major projects in the country.
Its foreign minister especially mentioned mining, roads and other infrastructure, farming, and trade.
Many projects supported during the earlier international military presence were not finished or did not work as expected.
Reports say about $145 billion was set aside for reconstruction and related activities by June 2021.
Some money helped security, government programs, development, and humanitarian aid.
Problems included corruption, insecurity, and poor management of funds.
Afghanistan’s economy grew for many years, but it depended heavily on foreign aid.
The Afghan foreign minister wants better future cooperation with the United States.
He says sanctions should be removed and the US Embassy should reopen, but American troops should not return.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has urged Washington to invest in mining, infrastructure, agriculture, and trade.
Reports say projects launched during the US-led international presence remain incomplete or have produced limited results.
Nearly $145 billion had been appropriated for Afghanistan’s reconstruction and related activities by June 2021.
CASA-1000, the TAPI pipeline, and the Khaf-Herat railway have faced delays, suspension, or limited construction.
Muttaqi called for sanctions relief and reopening the US Embassy but rejected any American military return or renewed control of Bagram Air Base.
- Who
- Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and the United States are central to the report.
- What
- Afghanistan is seeking US investment, sanctions relief, and renewed diplomatic engagement while rejecting a US military return.
- When
- The appeal comes five years after the largely US-led NATO troop withdrawal in mid-2021; reconstruction funds cited in the report were appropriated by June 2021.
- Where
- Afghanistan, including Kabul and projects linked to regional transport, electricity, and energy networks.
- Why
- Afghanistan wants future economic cooperation and investment despite stalled projects, sanctions, political concerns, and human rights concerns.
Afghan Government’s Position
Reported International Concerns
US economic engagement
Afghan Government’s Position
Amir Khan Muttaqi wants Washington to look beyond the previous two decades of war and invest in mining, infrastructure, agriculture, and trade.
Reported International Concerns
Sanctions, political concerns, and human rights concerns are identified as major obstacles to attracting US investment.
Future US involvement
Afghan Government’s Position
Afghanistan is seeking sanctions relief and the reopening of the US Embassy in Kabul as part of future cooperation.
Reported International Concerns
Muttaqi said a return of the US military and renewed American control of Bagram Air Base would be unacceptable.
Use of reconstruction funds
Afghan Government’s Position
Supporters of continued engagement can point to economic growth and major development initiatives during the international presence.
Reported International Concerns
Reports and experts cited corruption, instability, and poor management as reasons funds and projects did not produce the expected results.
- Reconstruction appropriations
- Nearly $145 billion had been appropriated for reconstruction and related activities by June 2021.
- Security spending
- $88.6 billion of the cited total was allocated to security.
- Governance and development
- $36.3 billion was allocated to governance and development.
- Humanitarian assistance
- $4.2 billion was allocated to humanitarian assistance.
- Mining investments since 2021
- Kabul has announced more than $7 billion in mining investments involving countries including China and Iran.
- Estimated mineral reserves
- Separate assessments cited in the report estimate Afghanistan’s mineral reserves at at least $1 trillion.
- Economic growth
- The World Bank reported average annual growth of more than 7% from 2000 to 2019, while GDP increased by 180%.
- Foreign aid dependence
- Aid averaged nearly 60% of GDP during 2000-2019 and was around 45% of GDP in 2019.