Head of Taliban Disaster Management Authority Says Smartphones Essential for Saving Lives

Nooruddin Trabi, head of the Taliban's Disaster Management Authority, has written that staff urgently need smartphones for rescue operations and saving lives. In the letter, Trabi stated that the ban on smartphone use in offices will remain until Hibatullah Akhundzada grants permission.

Employees have been told to keep basic phones active and share their numbers with the center. Staff without email access must use SMS and respond immediately. The directive follows a prior verbal order from Akhundzada banning smartphones for all Taliban members and government employees. Human rights activists have criticized the ban, saying the devices are vital for education, news, communication, and documenting abuses.