The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing of the Taliban has announced that a large mosque with a capacity of approximately 18,000 to 20,000 worshippers will be built in the Kote-Sangi area of Kabul city. According to the ministry, the allocated area for this project is more than 55,000 square meters.
In a statement released on Sunday, 31 Jawza, the ministry said that the technical assessments for the project have been completed and that preparations for the next phases of construction are underway.
The statement did not provide any details regarding the estimated cost of construction, funding sources, or the allocated budget for the mosque.
According to the published information, the mosque is planned to be built in one of the densely populated areas of Kabul city.
During nearly five years of Taliban rule, reports have emerged about the construction of hundreds of mosques across various provinces of Afghanistan.
This comes as Afghanistan continues to face one of the most severe humanitarian and economic crises in the world, with millions of people relying on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs.
At the same time, many cities in the country are struggling with a lack of urban infrastructure, adequate public services, and essential facilities.
Despite challenges such as widespread poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and international criticism regarding the human rights situation, the construction and expansion of mosques remain among the priorities declared by the Taliban.
International organizations have, in recent reports, warned about rising poverty and food insecurity in Afghanistan. In a report, the United Nations Development Programme stated that in 2025, three out of every four people in Afghanistan are unable to meet their basic needs, including sufficient food.
Similarly, estimates by the World Bank indicate that by late 2025, around 14 million people in Afghanistan were facing acute food insecurity, with this figure expected to rise to 17.4 million during the coming winter equivalent to nearly 40 percent of the country’s population.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
