Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has ordered the Ministry of Telecommunications to require telecom companies to provide user data, including calls and personal information, to the Taliban’s intelligence agency, local sources told Amu TV.
According to the directive, telecom operators must guarantee that all user records are accessible to Taliban intelligence. The order also calls for the creation of special keywords or codes that would automatically trigger the transfer of a user’s entire record to intelligence services if detected.
Sources said the move reflects Taliban concerns about sensitive government documents and information being shared outside the country, as well as the group’s lack of full control over the national fiber-optic network.
The reported order comes as the Taliban face mounting criticism for restricting internet access. In recent days, fiber-optic services have been cut in at least 10 provinces, disrupting banking, customs and passport services.
Earlier this week, a delegation from the Taliban’s ministries of finance and economy and the central bank traveled to Kandahar to meet Akhundzada over the economic fallout of the internet shutdowns. The delegation reportedly opposed the decision, warning that weakening or cutting connectivity would severely disrupt essential services that depend on online systems.
Taliban have not publicly commented on Akhundzada’s reported instructions or on the growing restrictions on internet access nationwide.
