The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice has seized a large residential development in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, declaring the “Ishaq Gailani Township” government property.
The decision was announced after a court ruled that the land had not been legally purchased from the state.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the ministry said the special court for land usurpation cases determined that all 5,640 acres of land in the Surkh Rod district development are state-owned. Residents have been instructed to seek compensation from private sellers who originally sold them the plots.
The ministry said the court reached its conclusion after “a thorough review of documents, evidence and property records,” determining the land had never been lawfully acquired from the government.
Ishaq Gailani, a former lawmaker from Paktika province and leader of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan, had been associated with the township, which bears his name.
Earlier this week, the Taliban announced a similar confiscation of at least 18 acres of land in Kabul’s “Aria Township,” continuing a broader campaign to reclaim what it calls illegally occupied state property.
The Taliban administration has formed a high commission for the prevention of land ursuption, which operates special courts in four regions and technical committees across all provinces to oversee property disputes and land recovery.
Since returning to power more than four years ago, the Taliban have identified and seized thousands of acres of land nationwide, much of it linked to housing projects associated with former officials of the previous government.
Property experts say many of the seized homes have changed ownership multiple times, making compensation for current residents nearly impossible.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice has not provided details about its review process. Affected landowners are barred from filing legal appeals or publicly presenting ownership documents under Taliban rule.
