Double Standards in Taliban’s Environmental Policies: Arab Hunters Granted Hunting Permits in Afghanistan

Local sources in Kandahar and Zabul provinces have reported that the Taliban have once again granted a group of Arab hunters permission to hunt birds in the mountains and plains of these provinces; this is while hunting birds is banned for ordinary residents of Afghanistan and is subject to legal prosecution. It is said that this group from Saudi Arabia is hunting extensively with official documents from the Taliban’s environmental department and only taking the livers of the hunted birds with them…

Issuance of Licenses for Hunting and Tourism

Local sources in Kandahar and Zabul provinces have told the media that the Taliban government has once again issued permits for a group of Arab hunters to hunt birds in these provinces. According to sources, this group of Arabs has been hunting birds in the mountains and plains of Kandahar and Zabul using three vehicles since last week.

These foreign hunters are extensively hunting birds in vital areas such as the plains and mountains of the districts of Daman, Arghistan, and Maiwand in Kandahar and the district of Shahr-e Safa in Zabul.

A source from Arghistan district in Kandahar emphasized that these individuals possess hunting permits from the Taliban’s environmental protection agency and tourism licenses from the Taliban’s information and culture department.

Removal of Livers and Leaving Bodies

One point that has increased dissatisfaction is the irresponsible hunting methods of these groups. According to this local source, the Arab hunters only take the livers of the hunted birds and leave the rest of the bodies in the same wilderness and plains. This practice leads to the destruction of environmental resources and valuable wildlife in the region.

A source in Shahr-e Safa district in Zabul also mentioned that these individuals came to these provinces with several guards and Afghan servants.

Contradiction in Taliban’s Environmental Policies

These actions take place while the Taliban have officially prohibited bird hunting in various provinces of the country and have repeatedly jailed and detained ordinary residents for hunting.

However, since regaining control of the country in August 2021, this group has repeatedly allowed groups of Arabs to hunt in the mountains and plains of the south of the country, which indicates a double standard in dealing with environmental issues.