Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Taliban have ordered a sweeping ban on the use of smartphones by government officials – in what some analysts say could foreshadow broader, population-level restrictions.
In a directive issued by the Taliban’s military courts, the ban was to take effect this week and prohibits “high rank, low rank, general mujahideen, or service staff” from using mobile phones.
In one video published online, a Taliban official appears to be shown reading the banning order from his phone while the other person is shown breaking phones.
The order states: “If anyone uses one, their mobile phone will be smashed and legal and sharia punishment will be imposed on the violator.” It adds that any exemptions require a written decree from the Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Reports and sources inside Afghanistan say that the bans are being implemented in an “ad-hoc” way – in some areas targeting only government officials, in some cities and provinces extending to women, civilians, medical workers, schoolteachers and students.
The bans come after escalating efforts by the Taliban to completely cut Afghanistan off from the global internet.
In September, authorities ordered an internet blackout which lasted two days and was vaguely justified by concerns over pornography; the order said the cutoff was to “prevent immorality”.
Employees wasting time online and leaking information may be part of the usual challenges of governance.
