NEW DELHI, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Afghanistan asked Indian companies to bid on extracting iron ore from Bamiyan province, though Indian sources said they need to figure out how to get it out.
Afghanistan is looking for Indian and Chinese investors to help develop mineral deposits in the country. U.S. defense officials estimated in 2010 that there could be as much as $1 trillion worth of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and lithium in Afghanistan.
The Indian government aims to make a consolidated bid for access to the ore deposits but will face difficulties in getting the ore out of the country if its efforts are successful, The Times of India reports.
In terms of Pakistan, bilateral ties are poor and security remains a concern along the volatile border with Afghanistan. India could ship the ore through Iran but Iranian relations with Kabul are sour and New Delhi and Tehran are engaged in a row over how to pay for Iranian crude oil imports.
Nevertheless, Afghan Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani said his country's mineral deposits would be beneficial for the entire region.
"The development of (ore deposits in) Hajigak will involve major infrastructure improvements and will stimulate the local economy and improve and lives of the citizens of Bamiyan province and beyond," he was quoted as saying.
