In the past two months, groups of Arab sheikhs—totaling around 150 individuals—have arrived in the deserts and forests of southern Afghanistan to hunt rare birds, according to sources familiar with the matter.
These hunters, reportedly from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, have been spotted in Kandahar, the deserts between Helmand and Uruzgan, and parts of Farah province. According to sources, they are targeting migratory birds that use these regions as a winter habitat.
A source close to the hunting parties told Amu TV that in addition to hunting birds, some of the sheikhs have also captured desert wildlife, including certain species of sand eels, which they transport abroad.
Other sources reported that some of the sheikhs have set up camps in border areas between Uruzgan and Helmand, where they regularly return during the hunting season.
According to detailed information obtained by local sources, Taliban security forces—including intelligence units—have been deployed to protect these hunters and prevent local residents from entering the areas where they are operating.
A Taliban security official told Amu that the Arab sheikhs visit Afghanistan annually under a 15-year contract. As part of the arrangement, the Taliban are responsible for ensuring their security and providing accommodation during their stay.
The hunters primarily seek the houbara bustard, a rare bird highly prized among Arab royals for falconry. The species migrates to southern Afghanistan during the winter, where Arab hunters use trained falcons to capture them.
The hunting expeditions appear to contradict an earlier directive from the Taliban’s supreme leader, who had banned the hunting of birds and prohibited local residents from engaging in such activities. However, reports indicate that this restriction has not been applied to the visiting Arab hunters, who continue their expeditions with the full support of Taliban authorities.
