The Taliban has launched an investigation into a stunning claim by Aqel Nazir, a man from Afghanistan’s Khost province, who says he’s 140 years old.
If true, Nazir, allegedly born in the 1880s, would smash the record for the world’s oldest person. Lacking documents, he swears he was in his 30s during the 1919 Third Anglo-Afghan War, a tale The Telegraph spotlighted Friday.
ویډیو: په خوست کې د یوه کس چې خپل عمر ۱۴۰ کاله يادوي د کورنۍ غړي وايي، ښايي دا په نړۍ کې تر ټولو د زيات عمر يوازنی ژوندی کس وي.
راپور: یوسف حنیف #طلوعنیوز pic.twitter.com/KCUdI3QiI5
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) April 3, 2025Nazir recalls celebrating victory with King Amanullah Khan, who drove out the British. “I was over 30 in the palace,” he said. “Everyone cheered as the British fled.” Living with a sprawling, multi-generational family, his grandson Khyal Wazir, 50, backs the claim: “He’s my grandfather. I’ve got grandkids, too.” The family insists he’s the oldest ever.
Taliban Steps In, Record at Stake
Mustaghfar Gurbaz, a Taliban spokesman in Khost, confirmed a civil registration team is on the case. “If we verify his age with documents or assessments, we’ll register him as the world’s oldest,” Gurbaz said.
Read: Deolira Pedro da Silva Aims for World’s Oldest Title at Nearly 120
Success would dethrone Jeanne Calment, who lived 122 years until 1997. Nazir’s story isn’t alone. Brazil’s Deolira Pedro da Silva claimed 119 in January, but Guinness hasn’t confirmed her bid, citing a flood of similar claims.
په خوست ولایت کې یو سپینږیری ادعا کوي چې ۱۴۰ کلن دی او ښايي د نړۍ تر ټولو زوړ سړی وي. عقل نذیر، چې د صبرو او یعقوبي ولسوالۍ اوسیدونکی دی، طلوعنیوز ته ویلي، کله چې افغانستان له انګریزانو خپلواکي واخیسته، هغه له ۳۰ کلونو ډېر عمر درلود او د خپلواکۍ د جشن په مراسمو کې یې ګډون کړی… pic.twitter.com/imfwHuQz60
— Kabul Podcast (@KabulPodcast) April 3, 2025With no paper trail, the Taliban’s probe hinges on evidence and memory. If Nazir’s tale holds, history books and records could rewrite themselves.
