Taliban have banned the use of smartphones in all local public offices in Panjshir province, expanding a policy that has been rolled out across several provinces in recent weeks.
In a statement issued by the Taliban governor’s office, the measure was implemented in accordance with a verbal directive from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The order prohibits civilian and military employees from using smartphones in public offices across the province.
The statement said employees found violating the ban would face disciplinary action under applicable regulations.
The statement framed compliance with Akhundzada’s directives as an obligation and pledged full implementation of his orders.
According to the statement, smartphone use had already been restricted among civilian and security personnel in Panjshir, with Taliban authorities conducting regular inspections. It added that computers would continue to be used for administrative correspondence and government services.
The announcement is the latest sign of a widening campaign against smartphone use within the Taliban administration.
In recent weeks, Taliban have issued similar directives in numerous provinces, including Kandahar, Herat, Balkh, Kunduz, Khost, Paktia, Ghazni, Bamiyan, Ghor, Sar-e-Pul, Maidan Wardak and Kabul, according to local sources familiar with the policy.
Several sources previously told Amu that the restrictions extend beyond the workplace and, in some areas, prohibit public employees and Taliban security personnel from possessing smartphones at home.
Documents and accounts from officials have indicated that those who violate the order could face disciplinary measures, including referral to military courts.
The Taliban have not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the restrictions. However, they have previously argued that smartphones contribute to security risks and distract government employees from their duties.
Critics say the policy could further limit access to information in a country where digital communication has become essential for government coordination, journalism and humanitarian operations.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has warned that the smartphone ban could significantly hamper access to information, particularly for local journalists who often rely on messaging applications such as WhatsApp to communicate with public employees and obtain public information.
The group described the measure as part of a broader pattern of restrictions on media and freedom of expression.
The ban also comes amid a wider Taliban effort to tighten control over information. Over the past year, authorities have imposed restrictions on visual media in several provinces and expanded enforcement of regulations issued by the Taliban Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.
While Taliban have presented the smartphone restrictions as an administrative measure, observers say the policy reflects their broader push to exert greater control over communication and public information nearly five years after returning to power.
