A major find in Afghanistan

The Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times: The discovery of significant mineral wealth in Afghanistan offers great potential for economic development once the nation is secure.

American geologists found nearly $1 trillion in mineral deposits in Afghanistan, The New York Times reported. Among the findings are iron, copper, cobalt, gold and industrial metals such as lithium.

Estimates of how much this untapped trove is worth range from $1 trillion to $3 trillion.

A former Afghan finance minister, Ashraf Ghani, wrote in a recent column for a London newspaper: “Afghanistan is rich in minerals including copper, iron, marble, chromite, manganese and emeralds. With good governance in place, these assets can generate funds.”

This offers added incentive for the Afghan government to put its house in order.