The Taliban's Ministry of Interior has announced the installation of dozens of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in various parts of Sharana, the capital of Paktika province.
In a statement released today (Saturday, October 24), the ministry said the cameras were installed at a cost of seven and a half million Afghanis. The stated objective for installing the cameras is "to ensure security and prevent potential security and criminal incidents."
During a ceremony launching the cameras, local Taliban officials called on the people of Paktika to cooperate with them in ensuring security. This move is part of the Taliban's oader effort to increase surveillance in major cities across the country.
Previously, the Taliban have installed thousands of CCTV cameras in various cities, most notably in the capital, Kabul. The "Kabul Security Belt" project, which involves placing over 62,000 cameras throughout the city, is the largest of these initiatives.
Although Taliban officials consistently frame the purpose of these cameras as ensuring security and combating crime, the surveillance programs have sparked widespread concerns about the violation of citizens' privacy. Human rights activists and ordinary citizens worry that the surveillance system will be used to suppress dissent, target civil society activists, and curtail individual freedoms.
Critics argue that in the absence of clear data protection and privacy laws under the Taliban administration, these cameras could become a tool for total social control. However, the Taliban have dismissed these concerns, emphasizing the security aspects of their projects.
Source: Taliban Ministry of Interior
🌐
