Penal Code.

The Penal Code of Afghanistan (2017) establishes a framework governing criminal liability, penalties, and enforcement measures, grounded in principles of legality, equality before the law, human dignity, and proportionality of punishment. The Code defines criminal responsibility, classifications of offences (felonies, misdemeanours, and petty crimes), and provides for principal, complementary, and alternative sanctions, including restitution and compensation for damage caused by criminal acts.
Part 11 of the Code contains provisions criminalising acts harmful to the environment, forests, water resources, land, and agricultural production systems. Environmental offences include pollution of water sources, contamination of wells and reservoirs, and actions spreading diseases, alongside criminal liability for non-compliance with environmental permits and standards. Specific provisions address illegal logging, destruction of green areas, and unauthorised exploitation or degradation of forests, as well as harmful practices such as premature harvesting of forest products and illegal grazing. Water-related offences include damage to water infrastructure, contamination, unauthorised well drilling, and diversion or misuse of water resources affecting other users. The Code also regulates crimes related to land use and tenure and it addresses offences linked to natural resource exploitation, such as illegal extraction of minerals, oil, and gas. The law further addresses harmful practices such as the use of toxic substances affecting fisheries or agricultural productivity. The text consists of 916 Articles.