This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows a general view of Shiwa area in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows Afghan miners excavating a mountain to extract gold at Gulak-Dara valley in Shiwa area of Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows a general view of a gold mine at Gulak-Dara valley in Shiwa area of Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This satellite photograph taken on July 19, 2026 by 2026 Planet Labs PBC shows a mining site between mountains in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Handout / 2026 Planet Labs PBC / AFP via Getty Images) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / © 2026 PLANET LABS PBC" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS -EXISTING WATERMARKS MAY NOT BE REMOVED/CROPPED

This photograph taken on August 4, 2026 shows an Afghan goldsmith melting gold at a workshop in Fayzabad, in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by OMER ABRAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 27, 2026 shows a general view of a gold mine on the outskirts of Taloqan in Afghanistan's Takhar province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows Afghan miners pouring water over a sieve to separate dirt and stones from gold nuggets at Gulak-Dara valley in Shiwa area of Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on July 28, 2026 shows a general view of a gold mine at Gulak-Dara valley in Shiwa area of Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. In Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images)