The Taliban’s Directorate of Emirati Companies announced that leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree allocating more than one million acres of land to Taliban-linked companies.
The land is intended for agricultural and commercial development.
The announcement was made during a press conference titled “One-Year Achievements of Emirati Administrations.” Officials did not disclose the specific locations of the allocated land or clarify whether it had previously been under state or private ownership.
The development raises concerns about land rights and transparency, as Afghanistan currently lacks an independent legal body to adjudicate disputes over land ownership. Many citizens have accused the Taliban of forcibly seizing private property and reclassifying it as state or “Emirati” land.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice had earlier formed the Commission for the Prevention and Recovery of Usurped Land, ostensibly to reclaim state-owned lands from so-called “usurpers.” Since its inception, the commission claims to have identified 49.7 million acres of land and reclaimed 3.9 million acres.
According to the latest figures, more than 12.7 million acres have now been registered and preserved under the Taliban’s “Emirati” property designation.
Critics argue that the absence of a legitimate judicial process or oversight means that many private landowners have no recourse if their property is confiscated. The Taliban’s consolidation of land under its control comes amid broader efforts to centralise power and build a new economic framework around Taliban-affiliated enterprises.
The General Directorate of Emirati Companies did not indicate when or how the newly allocated land would be developed.
