### [2026-06-17](/feed/2026/06/17/index.md)

##### Afghanistan
# Afghanistan's Taliban government imposes a ban on smartphone use by government employees, with exemptions requiring approval from supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. 




### Sources:

1. [AFP via CTV News](https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/heartbreaking-afghan-government-staff-abandon-smartphones-following-taliban-order/)

### Related:

1. [Talks between participants from the Taliban government in Afghanistan and Pakistan are held in Istanbul, Turkey under a Track 1.5 format in an effort to lower tensions between the two countries. ](/feed/2026/04/30/talks-between-participants-from-the-taliban-government-in-afghanistan-and-pakistan-are-held-in-istanbul-turkey-under-a.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban, government_
2. [Taliban authorities say that the Markazi High School in the Dangam district, Afghanistan, is damaged by rocket strikes from Pakistan. ](/feed/2026/04/15/taliban-authorities-say-that-the-markazi-high-school-in-the-dangam-district-afghanistan-is-damaged-by-rocket-strikes-f.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban, government_
3. [The Afghan foreign ministry says that talks between the Taliban–led government of Afghanistan and Pakistan in Ürümqi, China, to end the conflict have been "useful". ](/feed/2026/04/7/the-afghan-foreign-ministry-says-that-talks-between-the-taliban-led-government-of-afghanistan-and-pakistan-in-urumqi-ch.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban, government_
4. [Clashes break out on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Pakistan launching airstrikes on several locations in Afghanistan, including the capital of Kabul, targeting Taliban government forces directly, in what Pakistani defense minister Khawaja Asif describes as "open war". ](/feed/2026/02/27/clashes-break-out-on-the-border-between-afghanistan-and-pakistan-with-pakistan-launching-airstrikes-on-several-location.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban, government_
5. [Australia imposes economic sanctions and travel bans on four Afghan government officials over their involvement in human rights violations, particularly the Taliban's treatment of women. ](/feed/2025/12/6/australia-imposes-economic-sanctions-and-travel-bans-on-four-afghan-government-officials-over-their-involvement-in-human.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban, government_
6. [Telecommunications are almost entirely down in Afghanistan following a internet cut by the Taliban government, with mobile phone services down to 1% of normal connectivity levels. ](/feed/2025/09/30/telecommunications-are-almost-entirely-down-in-afghanistan-following-a-internet-cut-by-the-taliban-government-with-mobi.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban, government_
7. [The Taliban imposes a nationwide internet blackout in Afghanistan to "prevent immorality", cutting fiber-optic services and reducing connectivity to about 14% of normal levels, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. ](/feed/2025/09/29/the-taliban-imposes-a-nationwide-internet-blackout-in-afghanistan-to-prevent-immorality-cutting-fiber-optic-services.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban_
8. [Afghan supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada orders a complete ban on Wi-Fi internet in the northern Balkh Province to "prevent immorality". ](/feed/2025/09/16/afghan-supreme-leader-hibatullah-akhundzada-orders-a-complete-ban-on-wi-fi-internet-in-the-northern-balkh-province-to-p.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Hibatullah Akhundzada, supreme leader_
9. [The International Criminal Court prosecutor requests arrest warrants against Afghanistan's Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Taliban chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, accusing them of crimes against humanity. ](/feed/2025/01/23/the-international-criminal-court-prosecutor-requests-arrest-warrants-against-afghanistan-s-taliban-supreme-leader-hibatu.md) _Context: Hibatullah Akhundzada, Taliban, supreme leader_
10. [Two Americans held in Afghanistan are freed in exchange for a Taliban fighter in the United States. The deal is brokered by Qatar and finalized during the final hours of the outgoing Biden administration. ](/feed/2025/01/21/two-americans-held-in-afghanistan-are-freed-in-exchange-for-a-taliban-fighter-in-the-united-states-the-deal-is-brokered.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban_
