New Ban: Hibatullah Akhundzada Prohibits Government Employees from Using Smartphones

DID Press: In a continuation of the Taliban caretaker government’s mounting restrictions on internet access and communication services, the group’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has banned the use of smartphones by government employees.

According to reliable sources, this decision follows Akhundzada’s earlier directive to cut off high-speed internet and wireless connections in state institutions. Under the new order, no government employee will be permitted to use a smartphone while on duty, with implementation expected in the coming days.

The sources added that Akhundzada justified the measure as a way to “prevent misuse of the internet and the viewing of immoral content” by staff. However, he is reportedly considering broader steps, including reducing internet speed nationwide for the general public.

These developments come as internet services in Afghanistan already suffer from poor quality and high costs. “Atoma,” which replaced the telecom company MTN, is facing serious disruptions in many regions, while the Taliban-run Ministry of Communications has instructed employees not to provide public explanations regarding these failures.

During their first period in power, the Taliban had banned the use of all audio-visual devices. In their current rule, however, many officials and fighters of the group make extensive use of smartphones and social media. Despite this, Akhundzada has recently issued new restrictions, including a prohibition on filming, photography, and the display of images of living beings in state media—a directive that some Haqqani network officials reportedly disregard.