Taliban Grants Hunting Permits to Arab Hunters Amid Local Hunting Ban

Local sources in the provinces of Kandahar and Zabul 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 regions. This is occurring at a time when bird hunting is officially banned for ordinary residents of Afghanistan and is subject to legal repercussions. It is said that this group from Saudi Arabia is conducting extensive hunting activities with official permits from the Taliban’s environmental protection agency, taking only the livers of the captured birds with them…

Issuance of Hunting and Tourism Licenses

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

These foreign hunters are actively capturing birds in critical areas such as the plains and hills of the Daman, Arghistan, and Maiwand districts of Kandahar, as well as in the Shahr Safa district of Zabul.

One source from the Arghistan district of Kandahar indicated that these individuals possess hunting licenses issued by the Taliban’s environmental protection agency and tourism permits from the Ministry of Information and Culture of the Taliban.

Taking Livers, Leaving Carcasses

The method of hunting employed by these groups has heightened local grievances. According to this local source, the Arab hunters only take the livers of the captured birds and leave the remaining carcasses in the deserts and plains. This practice is leading to the destruction of environmental resources and the valuable wildlife in the area.

Another source in the Shahr Safa district of Zabul noted that these individuals arrived with several Afghan bodyguards and servants.

Contradictions in Taliban Environmental Policies

Such actions occur at a time when the Taliban has officially banned bird hunting across various provinces and has imprisoned or detained ordinary residents for hunting activities.

However, since regaining control of the country in August 2021, the Taliban have repeatedly allowed groups of Arabs to hunt in the mountains and plains of southern Afghanistan, reflecting a double standard in their approach to environmental issues.