Balkh landowners accuse the provincial land authority chief of widespread corruption and extortion.
Landowners in Balkh province have strongly criticized the head of the provincial land authority, Haji Agha, known as “Walayat Khan,” accusing him of corruption, abuse of power, and extortion.
According to residents, the Taliban official visits private farmlands daily, prohibiting landowners from cultivating their property unless they pay him. They say that over the past four years, his primary activity has been collecting money from the public.
Residents of Balkh list multiple violations, including the illegal leasing of government pastures to private individuals, the unlawful suspension of agricultural activity around the Qush Tepa Canal—particularly in Dawlatabad district—and the forced leasing of a citizen’s private land in Dehdadi district to a private company.
They add that more than 200 jiribs of land have been handed to an unidentified company without any legal procedures. Additionally, an agricultural company near the Mazar-e Sharif airport has been prevented from operating despite legally purchasing land for investment.
Balkh landowners stress that the ongoing abuses have severely harmed livelihoods and agricultural investment, calling for immediate intervention from senior Taliban authorities. They say they are exhausted and frustrated by the pressure, illegal actions, and systematic exploitation, warning that ignoring these complaints will deepen public dissatisfaction in the province.
