Taliban order ban on smartphones as officials shown destroying devices

AI Summary

The Taliban have issued a directive banning government officials from using smartphones, signaling potential for broader population-wide restrictions in Afghanistan. The ban affects officials across ranks and is enforced by Taliban military courts.

Directive aimed at government workers, but reports of wider implementation spark warnings of future Afghanistan-wide prohibition The Taliban have ordered a sweeping ban on the use of smartphones by government officials – in what some analysts say could foreshadow broader, population-level restrictions. In a directive issued by the Taliban’s military courts and reviewed by the Guardian, the ban was to take effect this week and prohibits “high rank, low rank, general mujahideen, or service staff” from using mobile phones. Continue reading...