Web Desk: The Taliban have ordered government employees across Afghanistan to stop using smartphones, introducing a sweeping restriction that could signal broader efforts to tighten control over digital communications and internet access.
According to directives circulated by Taliban authorities and reports from officials familiar with the order, the ban applies to government personnel at all levels, including senior officials, lower-ranking staff and members of the Taliban administration. Authorities began enforcing the measure this week.
The order warns that anyone found using a smartphone could face confiscation and destruction of the device, as well as legal and religious penalties. Any exemption requires approval through a written decree from Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
While the directive formally targets government employees, reports from different parts of Afghanistan suggest implementation has varied across provinces.
Sources inside the country said some local authorities have extended restrictions to teachers, students, healthcare workers, women and civilians. Analysts noted that enforcement often depends on decisions made by local officials, creating an uneven but expanding pattern of restrictions.
“There is a possibility that authorities are testing public reaction before considering wider measures,” one analyst monitoring developments in Afghanistan said.
An audio message obtained by media outlets and attributed to Taliban officials instructed employees not only to avoid smartphones in government offices but also to refrain from using them in their private lives. The message said the order applies to anyone receiving a salary from the Taliban administration.
Officials were also reportedly instructed to provide personal information, including phone numbers and mobile network details, through monitoring forms designed to track compliance with the ban.
The Taliban’s decision appears to stem from several concerns, including information leaks from within government institutions and worries about employee productivity.
Government officials have frequently used smartphones to photograph documents and share information before leadership formally approves policies, according to observers familiar with Taliban governance.
Authorities also believe excessive smartphone use has distracted employees from their official duties.
In Herat province, government workers reported that informal smartphone restrictions had already been in place for months before the nationwide directive emerged.
One employee said officials initially instructed workers not to bring smartphones to their offices. When some staff ignored the order, authorities confiscated and later destroyed the devices.
The employee estimated the loss of his phone at roughly 8,000 Afghanis.
The smartphone ban comes amid broader Taliban efforts to regulate access to information and digital communications.
Last year, authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout that lasted approximately two days, citing the need to prevent what they described as immoral online content. The disruption affected businesses, banking services, communications networks and emergency operations across the country.
Analysts said the shutdown exposed the country’s dependence on digital infrastructure and prompted concerns among both private-sector operators and government institutions.
Although authorities restored internet access after the disruption, observers believe the latest smartphone restrictions reflect continuing efforts to strengthen control over the flow of information.
The latest measures also follow unrest in the western city of Herat, where demonstrations erupted after Taliban authorities detained women and girls over allegations of improper observance of hijab rules.
Videos shared online appeared to show Taliban forces firing into crowds during the protests. Reports indicated that at least two people were killed.
The circulation of footage from the demonstrations highlighted the challenges authorities face in controlling information in an increasingly connected society.
Initially, officials disputed reports about the incident, but videos recorded on mobile devices later spread widely on social media, drawing attention inside and outside Afghanistan.
The Taliban have not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the nationwide smartphone ban, and officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
However, the measure reflects a broader pattern of restrictions introduced since the group returned to power in 2021, including tighter controls on media, internet access and public communications.
While concerns about workplace productivity and information security are common among governments worldwide, observers noted that Afghanistan’s approach stands out because authorities have moved to prohibit smartphone use through formal directives backed by punitive measures.
The latest order has fueled concerns among analysts and rights advocates that Afghanistan could face further digital isolation as authorities seek greater control over communications and access to information.
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