Originally Posted by cwd

This is not new. Did anyone read the article?

The Soviets knew about mineral resources in the 80's. The US has had info since at least 2004 and have been doing advanced searches since 2006 and 2007.

and, China is already there...
"China's top integrated copper producer, Jiangxi Copper Co (0358.HK), and China Metallurgical Group Corp, are going ahead with exploration of the vast Aynak Copper Mine, south of Kabul, after they won the contract to develop it last year [2008]."

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010...afganistan.php