According to information obtained by the 8 Sobh daily, some employees of the Taliban's Kabul municipality property directorate are engaged in a secret trade, selling confidential land information and archival documents to okers. These individuals allegedly receive between two to five thousand US dollars for photographing each page of the archival books.
Sources told 8 Sobh that these employees, with access to confidential land registration offices, provide sensitive information including owner details, property boundaries, location, and payment histories to the okers. This information is then sold to businessmen and land buyers. Some sources claim this data is also used to forge land ownership documents.
These records, which contain detailed information about owners, applicants, land plots, prices, and transfer processes, are considered "top secret" documents of the property directorate. Unauthorized access to them can facilitate forgery, fraud, and tampering with land ownership records.
The report mentions two current employees of the directorate who are allegedly involved in this process, but refrains from naming them as their comments could not be obtained. According to a reliable source, "the foundation of every land document is these very books," and the leaked information contains all the necessary details to create deeds.
The source added that these two employees receive between $2,000 to $5,000 for photographing each page of the books. Another source confirmed that fake land ownership documents are being created based on this information, stating, "behind this case is a large and widespread business."
This revelation comes as corruption in departments under Taliban control has become a serious concern. A 2024 study by the George W. Bush Institute indicated that after the Taliban takeover, a lack of transparency in government contracts and the sale of public properties has created opportunities for abuse of authority.
Furthermore, the Bertelsmann Transformation Index 2026 report on Afghanistan states that corruption among Taliban officials and their affiliated networks has weakened the rule of law, with influential members of the group often enjoying impunity. This highlights a systemic challenge within the Taliban's governance structure.
Source: 8 Sobh Daily
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