Civil servants in Afghanistan have started disposing of their smartphones after the Taliban introduced new restrictions.
On June 8, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered a ban on smartphone use for members of the movement and government employees. According to Afghanistan International, the directive was issued verbally but has already been communicated to police and intelligence agencies across different regions of the country.
Breaches of the ban may lead to proceedings in military courts. Authorities have already compiled lists of employees affected by the restrictions. According to Afghanistan International, these include job positions, workplaces, mobile network operators, and phone numbers.
After that, videos showing the order’s implementation began circulating on social media. The footage shows police destroying confiscated devices.
«In this way, they are showing loyalty to Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada,» one of the publications noted.
Kazakhstan excluded Taliban from its list of prohibited terrorist organizations in 2023. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited he UN Security Council resolutions.
