The Taliban have installed 350 security cameras across Pul-e-Khumri, the center of Baghlan province, saying the move is aimed at enhancing security in the northern city.
The cameras have been placed in various locations throughout the city, the Taliban-run Bakhtar News Agency reported on Monday.
This is part of a broader campaign by the Taliban, who have installed surveillance systems in multiple urban centers since seizing control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Speculation has surfaced about the involvement of Huawei, the Chinese technology company, in the installation of these security systems. While the extent of the company’s role remains unclear, the reports highlight China’s deepening relationship with the Taliban. Beijing was one of the first governments to acknowledge a Taliban-appointed ambassador and has signaled its willingness to engage with the regime diplomatically and economically.
Human rights groups have voiced alarm over the Taliban’s growing surveillance network. Activists argue that these measures are aimed not just at bolstering security but also at monitoring the daily lives of citizens and stifling dissent.
Amnesty International has strongly criticized the surveillance initiative, describing it as an infringement on fundamental rights, particularly for women and girls. In a statement issued last year, the organization noted that as many as 62,000 security cameras had already been installed in Kabul and other cities under the guise of “national security.”
“By increasing surveillance in public spaces, the Taliban are perpetuating policies that violate basic freedoms,” the statement read.
