A man in Afghanistan has claimed to be 140 years old, which would make him the longest-living person in known human history and the world's currest oldest living individual. Aqel Nazir lives in the eastern Khost province of Afghanistan and claims that he was born in the 1800s, making him old enough to remember some of the most significant events in human history such as the First and Second World War. Additionally, he claims to remember the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, during which he would have been in his 30s if his claims are true.
"I was in the palace with King Amanullah Khan," he said of the historic 1919 war. "I was over 30 at the time and I remember saying that the British had fled and knelt down. Everyone was happy and thanked King Amanullah Khan for chasing the British away. Many leaders accompanied us to the Arg [presidential palace], but now all of them have passed away."
The Taliban, which currently controls Afghanistan, has been prompted to launch an investigation into the man's claims despite him not having any supporting documentation as evidence.
Mustaghfar Gurbaz, a Taliban spokesman for the province of Khost, said: "If confirmed by documents or assessments, we will work to register him as the oldest person in the world."
Nazir's family have backed his claims. One of his grandsons, Khyal Wazir, said: "I am 50 years old. He is my grandfather, and I have my grandchildren as well."
Abdul Hakim Sabari, another one of the man's grandsons, said: "We request the government confirm our grandfather’s age using an ID or any other scientific method or documents, to prove he is 140 years old."
Meanwhile, one of his sons said that Nazir's brother and two sisters are nearly 100 years old.
However, another individual is waiting to have her claim to be the world's oldest living person verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Deolira Gliceria Pedro da Silva from Brazil says she has turned 120 years old, which would beat the current title holder, 116-year-old Inah Canabarro Lucas who also hails from Brazil.
