The Taliban’s ban on smartphones in state institutions under their control is intensifying rapidly. Many employees report that enforcement of the ban has disrupted workflows and institutional operations. According to them, the speed of work has slowed to an extreme degree, and urgent coordination has come to a near standstill. These concerns come as the Taliban have warned that anyone who defies the order will have their phones confiscated and broken, and will face arrest and dismissal from their positions.The
Taliban have now implemented the order across the majority of government institutions. Most recently, their Ministry of Commerce and Industry warned employees from grades three to eight that they are not permitted to use smartphones in their offices, and that anyone found doing so will be dismissed.
One employee, who asked not to be named, said: “This decision by the Taliban has had an extremely negative effect on the morale and work of employees. Smartphones have become part of life, and people run their lives through them. Sending official correspondence and coordinating formally has become as difficult as it was in the past. We are going back to the era before phones. I do not know where Afghanistan is headed or what will become of us in a few years under these conditions.”
The same employee added, “If the excuse is only WhatsApp use, WhatsApp is also available on computers. If the excuse is that employees are distracted, computers also have games. These are excuses, in my view. They are trying to limit employees’ reach because they do not trust them and do not want their corruption and nepotism exposed.”
Junaid (pseudonym), another employee, said: “All work depends on technology, and phones have made access to everything easier and faster. With this move, work has slowed considerably. Before, official letters or their text would be shared on WhatsApp and addressed urgently, but now coordination has become difficult. The Taliban have truly done this because they do not trust employees, while their own officials all have phones and bring them freely to the office.”
Over the past several days, the Taliban have not only confiscated smartphones from employees at several institutions but have also broken handsets that were purchased at considerable expense, in several provinces. At the same time, some shopkeepers confirm that smartphone sales have slowed, and many people are refraining from buying new handsets out of fear that the ban could be extended nationwide by the Taliban.
Sefatullah (pseudonym), a shopkeeper in Kabul, said: “Our sales have dropped. This ban has had an impact. People are afraid that smartphone use in public could one day be banned altogether, and for that reason, the smartphone market has shrunk. This is a major blow to companies and shopkeepers.”The
Taliban have also announced a ban on smartphones for university lecturers, staff, and students. Earlier, sources had confirmed to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the Taliban issued an order at Kabul University barring all individuals on campus from using smartphones starting from May 24, 2026. The order specifically stated that possessing a smartphone is “strictly prohibited” for students.
However, some human rights activists and media figures in Afghanistan insist that this decision was made by the Taliban with the specific aim of silencing the voice of Afghanistan. In their view, if this trend continues at the same intensity, access to information, online education, private communication, and the documentation of human rights violations and administrative corruption will all face serious restrictions, and many such cases will remain hidden.
Sources and several employees in Taliban-controlled government institutions had previously told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that this order was issued verbally by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban Supreme Leader. According to these sources, dozens of smartphones have so far been confiscated or destroyed in the enforcement of the order.
Taliban announced the ban on smartphones in educational and academic institutions at a time when these devices are among the most important digital tools in universities, playing an indispensable role in the processes of education, research, access to academic resources, and communication between lecturers and students.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines mobile learning as the use of devices such as smartphones and tablets to access and engage with educational content, a method that allows pupils and students to learn at any time and in any place.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also noted in its report “Digital Education Outlook 2026” that generative artificial intelligence is transforming the educational landscape. The report, citing recent research, emphasizes that these tools can support the learning process when used on the basis of clear pedagogical principles.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
طالبان و جنگ با تلفنهای هوشمند؛ از فلجکردن ادارهها تا خاموشکردن صدای افغانستان
