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Taliban begin selling Swat emeralds

By Whitney Sielaff
May 04, 2009

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Mainstream press sources in Pakistan report that Taliban agents have taken the next step with the emerald mines they have wrested control of in that nation's Swat region and are now marketing the gems to fund local terrorism activities.

The Daily Times quotes local gem market sources as stating that the Taliban have started "extensive mining" using hired labor and are selling the stones through the black market.

The Times also quoted a senior official at the Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Co. who said the U.S. government has voiced concern over the developments to Pakistan. Another source, however, told the Times that the federal and provincial governments have taken no steps to curb the "looting and plunder of state property."

Gemstone dealers told National Jeweler in April that because these emeralds are mostly small, low-quality stones, the impact on the international gem and jewelry trades is expected to be minimal.

About 50 percent of the world's finest emeralds are mined in Colombia, and perhaps 20 percent comes from Zambia, which is also known for yielding top-quality stones. By contrast, Pakistan is estimated to produce perhaps 1 percent to 2 percent of mostly small stones that are typically cut into small, calibrated stones and used as accents in jewelry and watches.

But dealers also warn that this issue could create yet another public opinion challenge for the international colored-stone trade, which has suffered negative publicity from a number of politically sensitive gem-related issues over recent years.
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