Taliban declares war on smartphones
The Taliban has implemented a ban on smartphones for government employees in Afghanistan, forcing many to switch to basic feature phones. This policy is disrupting essential services, including remote medical consultations and coordination for aid workers.
Why it matters
The restriction threatens the fragile digital infrastructure that many Afghans rely on for healthcare, education, and safety, raising concerns about further societal isolation.
Farzana, 40, is a midwife who covers 10 villages in Moqor district of Afghanistan's Ghazni province. Until recently, worried mothers often sent her photos of newborns with rashes, swelling or skin infections so she could decide who needed help most urgently.
But since the Taliban began enforcing a ban on smartphones that took effect in June, Farzana says she has stopped using her smartphone out of fear. She can now only be reached through a regular phone line — a more costly option in a country where people rely heavily on WhatsApp for calls, messages, photos and urgent coordination.
"I cannot be everywhere at once," said Farzana, who like many Afghans goes by one name. "Sometimes a photo or a message helps me understand whether a mother or newborn needs urgent help."
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