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Afghan Man’s Claim to Be World’s Oldest Person Investigated by Taliban
Authorities in Afghanistan are currently examining the assertions of an Afghan man who purports to be 140 years of age. If authenticated, this extraordinary lifespan would designate him as the oldest individual ever documented in history. Aqel Nazir, residing in the eastern province of Khost, asserts he was born in the 1880s, a claim that, if substantiated, would shatter existing longevity records and draw global attention to Afghanistan.
Recollections of a Century Ago
Nazir recounts vivid memories from the early 20th century, specifically recalling celebrations marking the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. He states he was present alongside King Amanullah Khan, the then-Afghan ruler who spearheaded resistance against British influence. Nazir indicated he was over thirty years old at the time of these historical events.
“I was within the palace with King Amanullah Khan,” Nazir stated. “I was beyond 30 years of age then and distinctly remember the announcement of the British retreat and our subsequent jubilation. Everyone expressed happiness and gratitude to King Amanullah Khan for expelling the British.” He further added, “Numerous leaders accompanied us to the presidential palace at the time, but sadly, all of them have since died.”
Family Seeks Official Recognition of Advanced Age
Despite Nazir’s detailed recollections, he lacks formal documentation to substantiate his purported age. His family, however, is actively supporting his quest for official acknowledgment. They are keen to secure formal recognition of his potential record-breaking age.
Aqel Nazir, residing in Afghanistan’s Khost province, reports his birth year as being in the 1880s.
The Taliban administration has deployed a civil registration team to evaluate his age.
Khyal Wazir, Nazir’s 50-year-old grandson, affirmed his grandfather’s age, stating, “He is indeed my grandfather, and I myself have grandchildren.” Another grandson, Abdul Hakim Sabari, appealed to the government, saying, “We urge the government to validate our grandfather’s age through identification, scientific methods, or any relevant documents to confirm his claim of being 140 years old.”
Taliban Initiates Age Verification Process
In response to the claims, the ruling Taliban administration has intervened to ascertain the veracity of Nazir’s заявлениe. A specialized civil registration team has been dispatched to Khost province to conduct an assessment of his age. Mustaghfar Gurbaz, a Taliban spokesperson for the province, commented, “If his age is substantiated through documentation or assessments, we will undertake measures to register him as the oldest person globally.”
Potential to Surpass Longevity Benchmark
Should verification confirm Nazir’s age, he would surpass the current record for the oldest person ever to have lived. This record is presently held by Jeanne Calment, a French woman born in 1875 who lived to be 122 years old, passing away in 1997.
Currently, the verified oldest living person is Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun who reached the age of 116 in June. Another Brazilian woman, Deolira Gliceria Pedro da Silva, is also seeking official verification from Guinness World Records for her claim to be 120 years old.
Inah Canabarro Lucas is currently recognized as the world’s oldest living person.
The Brazilian nun celebrated her 116th birthday in June.
Skepticism Surrounds Extreme Longevity Claims
Despite the ongoing investigation, some experts have voiced skepticism regarding Nazir’s claims of such advanced age. Valery Novoselov, a geriatrician from Moscow State University, expressed doubt to Russian news outlet AIF. “There are no reliably documented men on the planet older than 114 to 115 years,” Novoselov stated.
He further referenced historical instances of unverifiable age claims, “In the Caucasus during the 1960s, there were reports of ‘long-livers’ – shepherds purportedly living to 168 years. These instances often involve inflated age claims lacking credible documentation, rendering them unrealistic.”
Historical Context: Afghan Migrants and Age Verification
The case of Aqel Nazir is not the first instance of age-related complexities involving Afghan individuals. In 2015, an Afghan man claiming to be 100 years old sought asylum in Germany after an arduous eight-month journey from Afghanistan. Similar to Nazir, Abdul Qadir Azizi lacked formal identification, but his family asserted his birth year was 1905. Azizi, who was deaf and blind, undertook a month-long journey spanning continents to reach Germany, fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban reportedly killed three of his sons.
Challenges Faced by Elderly in Afghanistan
The situation for elderly individuals in Afghanistan has deteriorated since the Taliban assumed power. In 2024, the Taliban effectively dismantled the state pension system, leaving many older Afghans in precarious circumstances, struggling to afford basic necessities. Previously, individuals over 65 years of age received a monthly pension payment of approximately $100 from the government. The current investigation into Aqel Nazir’s age occurs against this backdrop of challenges facing Afghanistan’s aging population.