The Ministry of Information and Culture said it has signed contracts with a foreign organization to license the hunting of certain birds.

The officials said that the contracts aee worth around $42 million.

"Different contracts worth $42 million were signed. All legal considerations have been made," said Hayat Mahajar Farahi, the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture.

Many of the foreign hunters are reportedly from the Gulf.

They are usually looking for houbarah birds.

The houbarah comes to the western province of Farah every winter.

"Many people come here to hunt. The Arabs come one season of every year," said Gul Ahmad, a resident of Farah.

"The season for hunting will arrive within some days. When there is time for hunting, I also hunt," said Shah Mohammad, a resident of Farah.

Environmental protection activists said that hunting these rare birds will cause their numbers to decrease too low.

"Undoubtedly, if the actions are aimed at hunting these birds, this is a negative decision. But if the action is aimed at protecting the birds, then it is good for Afghanistan's environment," said Hujatullah Mirazai, an environmental protection activist.

"As I am talking to you right now, we are farming 1,200 birds here," said Aynuddin, a farmer of houbarah birds.

The Islamic Emirate earlier banned hunting across Afghanistan.

However, the Ministry of Information and Culture said it regulates the hunting of rare birds under certain conditions.