Taliban and Iran Reportedly Developing Application to Monitor Afghan Users

Anonymous sources and cybersecurity experts allege that the Taliban and Iran are collaborating on a mobile application designed to monitor Afghan users. The software reportedly grants intelligence agencies access to personal device data, including real-time location, contact lists, private messages, browsing history, and remote system controls.

The allegations have not been independently verified and rely on confidential reporting. The claims surface alongside official statements regarding domestic software development. Hidayatullah Hidayat, head of the Taliban’s Bakhtar News Agency, recently announced that the National Radio and Television is working on a new keyboard application. Officials did not specify whether the project relates to the reported monitoring tool.

Digital rights observers note that the push for localized software coincides with extended telecommunications disruptions in both countries. Iranian authorities have restricted internet access for nearly two months. In Afghanistan, the government previously suspended fiber optic and mobile networks for several days in May, prompting domestic and international criticism. Experts indicate that state-backed institutions are increasingly prioritizing digital infrastructure that allows for centralized oversight of user activity.

Cybersecurity analysts warn that such applications could significantly expand state capacity to track digital behavior and restrict access to independent information platforms. The technical specifications and deployment timeline for the alleged joint project remain undisclosed.