Taliban bans smartphones for Afghan govt employees on orders from supreme leader

Government workers across Afghanistan began switching off their smartphones on Wednesday after a ban attributed to Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada took effect, AFP reported.

A letter circulating on social media under the emblem of the Supreme Court announced the Taliban smartphone ban for all government employees, covering both military and civilian departments. Two government spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment.

What does the Taliban smartphone ban cover?

The ban applies to all government employees, both military and civilian, across Afghanistan's provinces. Exemptions can only be granted by the supreme leader himself. The letter stated: "Using smartphones is strictly banned effective 17 June," and directed department heads to inform all staff regardless of rank.

The ban was issued verbally before the letter began circulating, with employees in several provinces receiving instructions days before the official date. As of Wednesday afternoon, multiple central government departments were still publishing information through their WhatsApp groups. The Supreme Court, whose emblem appeared on the letter, has not responded to AFP's requests to comment.

What penalties do Afghan government workers face for using smartphones?

Penalties vary by province and appear to have been communicated verbally. In Ghazni province, workers were warned that anyone caught using a smartphone would be fired and face legal action. In remote Badakhshan, in northeastern Afghanistan, one employee said the penalty was six months in prison.

A municipal worker in Ghazni, speaking anonymously for security reasons, described the enforcement as immediate and firm. In Badakhshan, a verbal decree was read out to department heads ordering compliance from that day. How uniformly the ban is being enforced across Afghanistan remains unclear.

How is the Taliban smartphone ban affecting daily work?

Three government workers in Badakhshan told AFP the ban would make their jobs significantly harder, all speaking anonymously due to safety concerns. A transport department employee said he had been using WhatsApp to share cargo movement information. "Now, with this ban, our work can be disrupted and can even be made impossible," he said.

A teacher described the decision as "truly heartbreaking" after his smartphone was confiscated on Wednesday, then returned with a warning not to carry it again.

He said apps and WhatsApp groups were essential for staying connected with students and responding to their questions. An education department employee said he had been using AI tools on his phone to translate between Dari and Pashto for government communications. "Then I would send the replies to the ministry. Now I don't know what will happen," he told AFP.

What is the context behind the Taliban's latest restrictions?

The Taliban have governed Afghanistan for nearly five years under a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Last year, broadband access was restricted in several provinces for weeks before the government cut off internet and phone networks nationwide.

That shutdown paralyzed banks, grounded planes and caused chaos at hospitals for two days before communications were restored.