The lithium deposits would have to be pretty rich to warrant risking your life to get it. Unless you’re ready to pay off the insurgents, you’ll be a target seven days a week.
Until the security situation turns around, a lot of the potential wealth in Afghanistan will have to remain potential.
Poverty doesn’t cause violence. Violence guarantees poverty.
I think, that after hearing this, the Chinese might very well end up joining in the fight and then colonizing the country.
Naturally, they will not be PC about their methods of dealing with the terrorist scum.