KABUL: Government workers in different parts of Afghanistan have started switching off their smartphones, following an order imposed on Wednesday that came from Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

A letter announcing the ban on smartphones for all government employees started circulating on social media last week under the emblem of the Supreme Court, which has not responded to requests to comment.

“All the heads of departments in their respective provinces are advised to inform their staff, higher-ranking or lower-ranking, that using smartphones is strictly banned effective 17 June,” said the letter.

It referred to all employees of the military and civilian departments, mentioning that exemptions could only be granted by the supreme leader. As of Wednesday afternoon, multiple central government departments were still publishing information through their WhatsApp groups.

Two spokesmen for the Afghan government did not respond to requests to comment on the decision. In Ghazni province, located between the capital Kabul and the seat of the supreme leader, Kandahar, government employees started signing off from their smartphones on Tuesday evening.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2026