Sources in Balkh say that the Taliban have verbally instructed employees of government offices to surrender their smartphones.
Sources told the Hasht-e Subh Daily on Sunday, June 14, 2026, that the process of destroying smartphones belonging to government employees has also begun in Balkh.
According to the sources, the matter was communicated in some offices yesterday and in a number of other offices today.
The sources also said that the formal process of collecting and destroying government employees’ smartphones in Balkh may officially begin within the next week.
According to the sources, a delegation will likely be appointed within the next week by the Taliban military court in Balkh, and if anyone denies possessing a smartphone, the matter will be investigated seriously.
In recent days, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban Supreme Leader, has ordered members of the group to destroy the smartphones of all government employees.
The process has already begun in several provinces, and videos have also been released showing Taliban fighters breaking their own smartphones.
