Government officials admit the Taleban is forcing mobile phone companies to pay protection money or turn off services at night in some parts of the country.
Mohammad Yasin Samim, spokesperson for the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology says, “It is possible that this happens
Government officials admit the Taleban is forcing mobile phone companies to pay protection money or turn off services at night in some parts of the country.
Mohammad Yasin Samim, spokesperson for the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology says, “It is possible that this happens … there were reports in the past that communication companies give money to armed opponents so they can continue their activities but the amount of money and (names of) companies that do so are not known yet.”
Since 2010, cell phone carriers have had to bow to a Taleban ban on night-time mobile phone services as it sought to impose its diktat on conflict-prone districts and provinces like Helmand. Ataullah Afghan, a member of the Helmand provincial council told Killid, “Telecom networks have been shut at night for years.”
Herat Police spokesperson Abdul Rawoof Ahmadi is of the opinion that the government cannot provide security for mobile phone towers that are outside the city or installed in remote locations.
The Ministry of Communications has no information about the situation on the ground, which varies according to the security situation. Sometimes phone networks could be silent for a few hours, other times it may be unavailable for 24 hours.
Mobile phone use is widespread in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Communications estimates some 25 million SIM cards have been sold; and, there are between 15 and 18 million users.
Killid investigated mobile phone access in 11 provinces. While there was no break in service in Kabul, Balkh, Bamyan and Paktika, mobile carriers were silent at night in some districts of Nangarhar, Khost, Kapisa, Ghazni, Herat, Kandahar, Kunduz and Helmand. The districts most seriously crippled at night were Adreskan, Karukh and Pashtoon Zarghoon in Herat province; Andar, Zanakhan, Qarabagh, and Khogiani in Ghazni; Tagab, Alasai and Nejrab in Kapisa; Greshk, Marja, Garamser and Kajaki in Helmand. All of Kunduz province had no nighttime service.
In denial
Noor Sayeed, head of the communication department in Kapisa, says services in three districts, Tagab, Alasai and Nejrab, are switched off at night because of threats to blow up mobile antennas. While he is aware that mobile carriers bribe the Taleban in order to safeguard their towers, he insists he has no idea how much protection money they pay.
Kapisa Police chief Ahmad Fahim Qayem refuses to believe security is a concern. He claims that ever since he took charge, there has been no security-related problem in the province that could hinder cellphone services. He says he speaks at night to his subordinates in Nejrab and Tagad districts, and has never failed to get them. He rejects the many reports that national telecom companies or their local operators pay the Taleban protection money to function.
Salaam Network, under the Ministry of Communications, is unable to protect its antennas in remote areas. Samim, the ministry’s spokesperson says, “Salaam is doing its best to deliver services to people despite many high security threats. But when the lives of our staff are at risk, we have to turn off the towers.”
Sayed Rahman Hadeed, head of the communication department in Herat, says mobile networks in three districts are active only for 12 hours because of security concerns. The districts are Adreskan, Pashtoon Zargoon and Karukh. However, Killid’s investigations reveal that only some companies were shutting down night services. Etisalat Afghanistan has no network at night, but four other telecom companies (identities have been deliberately held back) provide uninterrupted service. Spokesperson Samim observes, “… some companies may be paying money to armed opponents in areas that are profitable.”
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