Afghan villager thinks he is world’s oldest living person at 140 

Aqel Nazir from Khost province seeks official verification of his age.

KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — An Afghan man claims to be 140 years old, a record-breaking age that, if verified, would make him the oldest known living person.

Aqel Nazir, a resident of Sabari and Yaqubi districts in Khost province, says he was over 30 when Afghanistan gained independence from British rule in 1919. His family is now seeking official documentation to confirm his claim.

Speaking to TOLOnews, Nazir recounted his memories of Afghanistan’s struggle for independence under King Amanullah Khan.

“I was in the palace with King Amanullah Khan. I was over 30 at the time and remember everyone rejoicing, saying the British had fled.

People were celebrating, and we thanked the king for driving them out,” he said.

Nazir’s family, which consists of more than 100 members, says his remarkable longevity is evident in their generations.

His grandson, Khyal Wazir, explained, “I am 50 years old. He is my grandfather, and my grandchild is already older than some of his other great-grandchildren.”

His brother, Khyal Nazir, added, “Our father’s age is around 140, and I am 70. I have two sisters older than me.”

The Khost governor’s office has pledged to investigate the claim.

Spokesperson Mustaghfar Gurbaz stated that a special technical team would be dispatched to verify Nazir’s age through civil registration records and other available documents.

“If confirmed, not only will he receive special healthcare, but we will also work to register him as the world’s oldest living person,” Gurbaz said.

Currently, the world’s oldest verified living person is Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas of Brazil, who is 116 years old, according to Guinness World Records.

If Nazir’s claim is authenticated, he would surpass this record by more than two decades, rewriting global records on human longevity.