A directive circulating on social media under the emblem of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court ordered all military and civilian government employees to stop using smartphones from June 17, with exemptions requiring approval from the supreme leader.

“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,” the document stated.

The Supreme Court did not respond to requests for comment, while government spokespersons also declined to publicly address the reported measure.

The order appeared to take effect in several provinces, with government workers describing immediate efforts to comply. In Ghazni province, officials were instructed to discontinue smartphone use and rely instead on telephone calls and email for official communication.

Messages seen by AFP showed local administrators informing staff that the ban was being implemented under instructions attributed to the supreme leader.

A municipal employee in Ghazni, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said workers had been warned that violating the order could result in dismissal and legal consequences.

In the northeastern province of Badakhshan, a government information department employee said officials had been informed verbally that anyone found using a smartphone could face up to six months in prison.

The move has generated concern among public servants who rely heavily on mobile applications for routine administrative tasks. Several employees said communication, data sharing and coordination could become considerably more difficult without access to smartphones.

A transport department official said WhatsApp had become an essential tool for monitoring cargo movements and coordinating logistics across the province.

“Now, with this ban, our work can be disrupted and can even be made impossible,” he said.

Teachers also expressed concern about the impact on education. One teacher said his smartphone was temporarily confiscated before being returned with instructions not to bring it to work again.

He said messaging applications had enabled communication with students regarding coursework, assignments and classroom concerns.

An employee of the provincial education department said smartphone-based artificial intelligence tools had helped him translate official correspondence between Dari and Pashto, facilitating communication with ministries and government agencies.

The extent of nationwide implementation remained unclear, as several government departments continued to publish updates through WhatsApp groups on Wednesday afternoon.

The Taliban administration, which has governed Afghanistan since returning to power in 2021, has introduced a series of restrictions under its interpretation of Islamic law. Authorities have previously imposed limits on internet access and telecommunications services.

Last year, broadband services were restricted in several provinces before internet and phone networks were temporarily shut down nationwide, disrupting banking services, transportation systems and hospital operations before communications were restored.

The smartphone ban, if enforced uniformly across government institutions, would represent one of the most significant restrictions yet on digital communication within Afghanistan’s public sector.

The resolution, sponsored by China, extends the mandate of the UN political mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA, until June 17, 2027, and reinforces its role in supporting humanitarian assistance and promoting inclusive governance without discrimination based on sex, religion or ethnicity.

It also calls for the “full, equal, meaningful and safe participation” of women, minorities, youth and persons with disabilities in Afghanistan’s political and social life, according to the text adopted by the Council.

The vote followed reports of the arrest of at least 30 women in the western city of Herat this month for allegedly violating Taliban-imposed dress regulations, an incident that triggered a rare protest which was dispersed by security forces, according to the UN mission.

The Taliban, who regained control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led forces, have imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s rights, including limits on education beyond primary school and access to employment, drawing repeated condemnation from international organisations.

United States deputy ambassador Jennifer Locetta said the Taliban must meet international obligations, end abuses against women and girls, and address counterterrorism commitments, including concerns over militant activity in the country.

Pakistan’s UN ambassador Asim Ahmad said the resolution also reflected concern over the presence of armed groups operating in Afghanistan that pose a threat to regional stability, amid ongoing cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Security Council resolution further authorises UNAMA to facilitate dialogue between the Taliban and regional actors and to support Afghanistan’s economic recovery, including efforts related to financial systems and the possible return of central bank assets for humanitarian use.

A new book by a veteran international journalist uses the history of Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel to trace decades of political upheaval in Afghanistan, while highlighting the experiences of ordinary Afghans who lived through successive governments, conflicts and social transformations.

The author argues that Afghanistan’s modern history is marked by repeated cycles of change and uncertainty, yet many Afghans continue to hold on to a belief that no political system is permanent. That sense of resilience, she says, remains one of the defining characteristics of the country despite the challenges facing its people.

“Afghans always used to say: the last to die is hope,” she said during an interview discussing the book. “Afghanistan has possibly lived through every political system the world has tried. The thread through Afghan history is that nothing lasts forever.”

At the centre of the narrative are employees of Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel, one of the country’s most recognisable landmarks. Through their personal accounts, the book documents how political changes shaped everyday life across generations.

Among those featured are a longtime housekeeper who worked at the hotel from its opening, one of its first female chefs, an engineer responsible for maintaining the property through periods of conflict and instability, and one of the hotel’s pioneering female waiters.

Their experiences provide a perspective on Afghanistan’s recent history that extends beyond political leaders and military campaigns.The author said documenting those stories required the trust and cooperation of Afghans who were willing to speak despite potential risks.

“I have to pay tribute to the Afghans who helped me and spoke to me for the book, because in Afghanistan even sharing stories can have risks,” she said.The journalist began her reporting career as a freelance correspondent in West Africa before joining the BBC and covering conflicts and political developments around the world.

She later became the broadcaster’s chief international correspondent, reporting from some of the most significant geopolitical events of recent decades.Her latest book opens with the collapse of the internationally backed Afghan government in August 2021 and the return of the Taliban to power following the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces.

The fall of Kabul and the chaotic evacuation that followed form a central part of the narrative.Recalling the scenes at Kabul airport, she described a period marked by fear, confusion and desperation as thousands attempted to leave the country.“There was this fear at the end,” she said.

“People kept talking about Vietnam. In fact, it was a hundred times worse.”She remembered military transport aircraft, helicopters and large crowds carrying only essential belongings as they sought evacuation. Images of Afghans clinging to departing aircraft became some of the most widely circulated photographs of the withdrawal and drew international scrutiny over the manner of the exit.

The events of August 2021 remain among the defining moments of her reporting career and continue to shape international debate over the consequences of two decades of foreign military involvement in Afghanistan.Since regaining power, the Taliban administration has introduced a series of restrictions affecting women and girls.

Secondary education and university access for girls have been suspended, while women have been excluded from many forms of employment and public participation. Additional regulations have imposed strict dress requirements and further limited women’s visibility in public life.The journalist described the situation as one of the most pressing human rights concerns facing Afghanistan today.

“Five years in and it is getting worse. It is a stain on our world,” she said.Despite those restrictions, she said Afghan women continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination in the face of mounting obstacles.She also expressed concern about challenges faced by Afghan women outside the country, particularly those seeking educational opportunities abroad.

While scholarship programmes remain available in some cases, she noted that visa barriers and immigration restrictions have prevented many students from pursuing studies overseas.“There are Afghan women getting scholarships, but there are no visas now to allow Afghan women to come and study in Britain and in many other places,” she said.

According to the author, many Afghans who once held prominent roles in journalism, civil society, education and public service have been forced to rebuild their lives from the beginning after leaving the country.“People who were somebody in Afghanistan — activists, world-class journalists — find themselves having to start again from scratch,” she said.

The displacement of professionals and educated workers has contributed to concerns among international observers about the long-term impact on Afghanistan’s social and economic development.At the same time, the author cautioned against viewing the entire period between 2001 and 2021 solely through the lens of its final outcome.

She argued that the years of international engagement produced significant changes in education, media, civil society and opportunities for women, even if many of those gains are now under pressure.She said debates about whether two decades of foreign involvement achieved meaningful results often overlook the experiences of millions of Afghans whose lives changed during that period.

“People often say: what did 20 years of international engagement achieve? Was it all for nothing?” she said. “I always say it wasn’t for nothing.”Through the story of one hotel and the people who kept it operating across decades of turmoil, the book seeks to document those experiences and preserve the voices of Afghans whose lives intersected with some of the most significant events in the country’s modern history.

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces “once again violated Afghanistan’s airspace” and struck civilian homes in multiple eastern provinces, including Kunar, Khost and Paktika. He said 11 children, one woman and one elderly man were among the dead, calling the strikes a breach of sovereignty.

An official in Khost province, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that a house in Spera district was hit, killing nine people and injuring 10 others. In a separate incident in Paktika province’s Barmal district, two residents said another strike killed three civilians, all of them children, after a residential home was targeted.

Neither the government of Pakistan nor its military immediately responded to requests for comment. However, Islamabad has repeatedly stated in the past that such operations target militants responsible for attacks inside its territory and are not directed at civilians.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained tense since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with security disputes dominating bilateral ties. Islamabad has accused the Taliban authorities of allowing militants, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghan soil, a charge Kabul has consistently rejected.

The latest strikes come after a brief period of relative calm along the border following months of heightened violence earlier this year, which included cross-border fighting and air operations. A United Nations report cited by AFP previously estimated hundreds of Afghan civilian casualties during earlier phases of the conflict in 2026.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has also seen prolonged closures and disruptions to trade following repeated flare-ups in violence, further straining economic and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was concerned about multiple arrests and detentions of women in Herat for alleged non-compliance with dress requirements. The mission did not specify the number of people affected, although local media reports said at least 21 women and girls had been detained.

In a statement posted on X late Sunday, UNAMA reminded Afghanistan’s de facto authorities that all people are entitled to freedom of movement and equal treatment under the law, regardless of gender.

The reported detentions followed a Taliban directive issued last week requiring women appearing in public to wear what authorities described as a “proper hijab,” according to local media. Reports said women who showed their faces or wore makeup could face punitive measures. Reuters could not independently verify the directive.

The Taliban administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported arrests.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has imposed extensive restrictions on women and girls, limiting access to secondary and higher education, employment opportunities and organized sports. The policies have drawn criticism from the United Nations, Western governments and international rights organizations.

Taliban officials maintain that women’s rights are protected under their interpretation of Islamic law.

The issue has also raised concerns about Afghanistan’s long-term social and economic development. A UNICEF report published in April warned that continued restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment could leave the country short of more than 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers by 2030.

KInternational agencies have repeatedly argued that women’s participation in education, healthcare and the workforce is critical to addressing Afghanistan’s humanitarian and development challenges.

Under a decree approved by Hibatullah Akhundzada, girls may be considered eligible for marriage upon reaching puberty, and a girl’s silence can be treated as consent to marriage.

The UN committee said the measure violates international child-rights standards, arguing that puberty is not adulthood and that silence cannot be considered genuine consent.

Rights advocates warn the decree could increase forced and early marriages, while making it difficult for girls to challenge such unions in Taliban-controlled courts.

Taliban officials rejected the criticism, saying the policy is based on Islamic principles and insisting they oppose forced marriages. However, the UN says the decree undermines protections for children’s rights, education, health, and personal freedom.

The accident occurred in Afghanistan’s eastern Laghman province along the Kabul-Nangarhar highway, a key transport route linking the capital Kabul with the country’s eastern regions.

The passengers were among Afghan nationals returning from neighboring Pakistan amid ongoing deportations and migration enforcement measures that have accelerated cross-border movements in recent years.

Abdul Malik Niazai, spokesperson for the Laghman provincial governor, said the truck plunged into a ditch after overturning. He reported that 10 children and five women were among those killed in the crash.

Aminullah Sharif, the provincial director of public health, confirmed the death toll at 22 and said approximately 36 people were injured. The wounded were transported to hospitals in neighboring Nangarhar province for treatment.

Officials said preliminary information indicated the driver fell asleep before the vehicle veered off the road and crashed. Authorities did not immediately provide details on the truck’s capacity or whether passengers were being transported in conditions compliant with transport regulations.

The victims were among thousands of Afghans who have recently returned from Pakistan, which launched a crackdown on undocumented migrants in 2023 and has since deported or pressured large numbers of Afghans to leave. Iran has also intensified expulsions of Afghan migrants, contributing to a sustained flow of returnees into Afghanistan.

Millions of Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran in recent years, including many who were born abroad or had spent decades living and working in the two neighboring countries.

In a separate incident, officials in eastern Nuristan province said a vehicle plunged into a river late on Friday, injuring its driver and leaving four passengers missing. Rescue teams continued search operations on Saturday.

Road accidents remain a persistent challenge across Afghanistan, where aging infrastructure, poorly maintained roads and limited enforcement of traffic regulations contribute to high rates of fatal crashes.

Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the WFP, said Afghanistan was experiencing its worst malnutrition surge on record following climate-related disasters, a deadly earthquake and the return of millions of Afghans expelled from Iran and Pakistan.“It is a nutrition crisis here in Afghanistan,” Skau told AFP during a visit to the country.

“The surge last year was the worst we’ve ever seen. It’s worse this year.”The WFP estimated in January that around five million Afghan women and children would face life-threatening levels of malnutrition in 2026 in a country of more than 40 million people.

Afghanistan’s conflict-driven border shutdown with Pakistan, which has largely halted cross-border movement for nearly eight months, combined with economic fallout linked to the Iran war, has disrupted regional supply chains and pushed up prices for fuel and essential food commodities.

“If we weren’t struggling with the supply chain, both delays and costs, we would be able to feed a million more children here in Afghanistan,” Skau said.He said thousands of tons of fortified biscuits intended for Afghan schoolchildren had originally been scheduled to transit through Pakistan before border restrictions forced the WFP to reroute supplies through Dubai and Iran.

After conflict intensified in the Middle East, the agency was compelled to redirect shipments again through seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Georgia and Turkmenistan.“It’s about to arrive this week, but it’s taken months.

It cost us way more,” Skau said.Funding shortages have compounded the crisis. The WFP has secured only eight percent of its targeted funding for Afghanistan this year, limiting its ability to respond to escalating humanitarian needs.

Skau described visiting a rural clinic in eastern Afghanistan where women carrying severely malnourished children waited for hours seeking assistance, only to be turned away because aid stocks had run out.

“We did not have assistance to give them,” he said. “The desperation in the voice of these women will stay with me for a long time.”

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said claims made by Pakistani officials linking Afghanistan to the attack on a police station in Bannu were unfounded.

“The Afghan government considers the recent statements by Pakistani officials, which claimed that the attack on the police station in Bannu was planned in Afghanistan, baseless,” Mujahid said in a statement posted on X.

The response came after Pakistani authorities blamed Afghanistan-based militants for the suicide bombing and subsequent assault on a police checkpoint in Bannu, an area near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan that has seen a resurgence of militant violence.

The attack, one of the deadliest against Pakistani security forces this year, intensified tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, which have repeatedly traded accusations over cross-border militancy.

Pakistan has accused militant groups operating from Afghan territory of orchestrating attacks inside Pakistan since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

The Taliban administration has consistently denied harboring militants targeting neighboring countries and has argued that Pakistan’s security challenges are an internal matter.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply in recent months, including military confrontations earlier this year after Pakistan launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan targeting what it described as militant hideouts.

The Taliban condemned those strikes as violations of Afghan sovereignty.

The blast struck Naurang Bazar in the Sarai Nawrang area near Bannu District, close to the Afghan border, according to emergency officials and local authorities.Witnesses described scenes of panic after the explosion tore through the busy marketplace, damaging storefronts and vehicles as residents and rescue workers rushed to evacuate the wounded.

Rescue 1122 said nine people were killed and around 30 others wounded in the attack, adding that critically injured victims had been transferred to hospitals in Bannu for treatment.Dr. Mohammad Ishaq said the hospital had received at least 37 injured patients, several of whom remained in critical condition.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.The attack came days after a coordinated assault involving a car bomb and armed ambush on a police checkpoint in Bannu district killed 15 police officers. Pakistani authorities blamed militants operating from Afghan territory for the weekend attack and lodged a formal protest with the Taliban-led government in Kabul.

The Taliban administration said on Monday it had no immediate response to Pakistan’s allegations.Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply in recent months amid escalating accusations over cross-border militancy. In February, Pakistan launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan targeting what it described as militant safe havens linked to attacks on Pakistani security forces.

The Taliban government has repeatedly denied providing sanctuary to militants and maintains that Pakistan’s security crisis is an internal matter.

Northwestern Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence in militant violence since the collapse of a ceasefire between Islamabad and armed insurgent groups, with attacks increasingly targeting police, military personnel and civilian areas near the Afghan frontier.