The Taliban Wage War Against Their Arch Enemy Inside Their Members’ Pockets

Inside the pockets of their fighters and government employees, the Afghan Taliban are waging a silent war against devices that have become an integral part of everyday life.

According to a leaked document, the movement’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, issued a new directive banning the use of smartphones by Taliban members and government employees, according to reports by Afghanistan International.

The document, which the outlet says it obtained, warns that violators could be referred to military courts for prosecution.

According to the document, the decision was circulated by the Taliban Ministry of Justice to the heads of military courts operating within the military structure of the Taliban Supreme Court across eight regions of the country.

Police commanders and intelligence chiefs in those regions were also informed of the new directive.

The instructions state that military court officials are required to ensure the full implementation of the decision and submit reports confirming compliance by the relevant authorities.

A special monitoring list has also been established, containing the names, workplaces, phone numbers, and communication networks of all individuals under surveillance.

Additional Restrictions

The Taliban had previously imposed restrictions on the use of smartphones.

More recently, a separate directive required students not to bring smartphones to schools or religious institutes.

The Taliban Minister of Higher Education had earlier described smartphones as “one of the three main enemies of Muslims.”

In October of last year, he informed universities and educational institutions that the use of smartphones during working hours and on university campuses was prohibited. Only university presidents and directors of educational centers were permitted to carry smartphones to work.