Kabul, Jun 19 (EFE).- The Taliban regime has allegedly banned the use of smartphones in all government institutions in Afghanistan without issuing an official public order, officials from the de facto government told EFE.
«The directive was issued verbally by the respected Sheikh (the Taliban Supreme Leader), stating that smartphones should not be used in government institutions. After that, some departments issued written notices to enforce the ban,» a member of the Taliban administration’s Ministry of Defense told EFE on condition of anonymity.
According to officials familiar with the policy, the restriction applies not only to military institutions, but also to civilian government departments, where employees have been instructed not to bring smartphones to their workplaces.
«Although we were not told a specific implementation date, we have been told that smartphones should not be brought to the workplace,» Ministry of Urban Development official Samsoor Mashal told EFE.
Videos circulating online in recent weeks show employees of some government institutions destroying their own smartphones, an action that has been portrayed by some supporters as a demonstration of loyalty to the Taliban Supreme Leader.
