Afghanistan: Two months ago, a group of Taliban military officers was preparing to raid an Islamic State hideout outside Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. The soldiers had kept their automatic rifles handy. Its commander Habib Rahman Inc was trying to ascertain the exact position of his target.
He called the senior officers from his colleagues’ phones. Officials said the location has been sent on WhatsApp. This is the only problem facing the Taliban government. WhatsApp has blocked Habib’s account under US sanctions. Habib, 25, said that the only means of contact and communication we have is WhatsApp.
Habib is not alone. WhatsApp accounts of Taliban government officials, police, and soldiers have been closed or temporarily disabled over the past few months. This problem is increasing. This shows the extent to which the Taliban government is dependent on the messaging platform.
This situation gives a glimpse of the far-reaching consequences of international sanctions. The US has long declared any support to the Taliban a crime. A spokesperson for the company said WhatsApp blocks the accounts of Taliban users by closely identifying them. The ban has existed since Taliban fighters waged a war against the Afghan government.