The Taliban has installed a new network of surveillance cameras in Khost city, valued at 3.59 million Afghanis, according to Abdul Mateen Qane, spokesperson for the group’s Ministry of Interior.
Qane stated that the initiative aims to prevent crime, apprehend offenders, and ensure “urban security and public order.” The project was executed by the Taliban’s police command in Khost and funded by the Ministry of Interior.
He added that existing cameras in the city have already helped identify and arrest several individuals.
However, critics argue that the Taliban’s expanded surveillance is less about public safety and more about tightening control over daily life. In a context where “even the type of clothing can be considered a crime,” many view the cameras as a tool of oppression rather than protection.
