There is recent news of China moving in for the kill, offering big big $$$ to Taliban and/or whoever is at the top of the dung heap. The CCP wants those rare earth minerals or metals or whatever they are and the gems don’t hurt either. China makes so much $$ making fentanyl and meth ingredients they don’t need to mess around with poppy farms. Plus they want a foothold there.
Lapis lazuli has been mined from Afghanistan since the days of Sumer !
It’s possible. But, the tallybong just don’t like infidels of any sort. The chicoms better come in with mega bucks and be prepared to split their take with the terrorists. Infidels have never ever been accepted in that part of the world. So if they come it will cost them a pile and even then if they score with minerals the tallybong may nationalize the haul. They will never let too manly chicoms come in that they can’t take them all out.
Once the US is gone they will never give up the area.Rhe chicoms rip and rape every area they come to this won’t be a surprise to the tallybong,they are not dumb.
Fentanyl is very valuable. But, it has to be cut with something else. It’s actually too powerful. Too strong.Heroine is a favorite cutting agent.I doubt the CIA will welcome the chicoms. They have to have a deal with the tallybong it’s how the work.
I guess we shall see within the next year or so.