Is Taliban Taking Afghanistan Back to the Stone Age?

In yet another strict decision, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned the use of smartphones by government officials and employees. According to the new order, if any official or employee is caught using a smartphone, the device will be destroyed on the spot and legal action under Sharia law will be taken against them.

The order has been issued by Taliban military courts. It states that no one, from high-ranking officials to ordinary employees and mujahideen, will be allowed to keep or use a smartphone without written permission from the supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Videos circulating on social media show Taliban officials reading out the order and destroying mobile phones. However, the Taliban has not issued any official statement on the matter.

Reports suggest that the ban is not being implemented uniformly across the country. In some areas it is limited to government employees, while in others it is also affecting women, students, teachers, and health workers.

Experts believe the Taliban is currently monitoring public reaction and may extend the smartphone ban across the country in the future. They say this step could further isolate Afghanistan from the rest of the world.

In recent months, the Taliban has taken several steps to increase control over the internet and digital communication. Last year in September, internet services were shut down across the country. The Taliban described it as necessary to stop 'immoral content'. However, the decision severely affected business, banking, aviation, and emergency services, forcing the Taliban to restore internet access.

Analysts believe the smartphone ban may be driven by multiple reasons. Recently, videos of women’s protests in Herat went viral on social media. The protests were against the arrest of women and girls. It is alleged that several people died during the Taliban forces’ action. The Taliban faced international criticism after the videos surfaced.

The Taliban is also concerned that government officials are leaking confidential documents and meeting information through mobile phones. In many cases, information about government decisions reached social media even before official announcements.

This latest restriction adds to the growing list of Taliban measures that are pushing Afghanistan towards greater isolation from the modern world.