China's Role in Afghanistan's Surveillance Future: Huawei's Involvement Revealed
The Taliban is in the process of establishing
an extensive camera surveillance network in Afghan cities, with plans possibly
rooted in a strategy crafted by the United States before their withdrawal in
2021, as per an interior ministry spokesperson who spoke to Reuters. The
objective is to bolster the existing camera infrastructure already in place
across Kabul, the capital city.
The Taliban administration, publicly
emphasizing the restoration of security and crackdown on Daesh, which has
claimed responsibility for numerous major attacks in Afghan cities, has also
explored potential cooperation with the Chinese telecommunications equipment
manufacturer, Huawei.
The central focus of discussions between the
Taliban and various foreign nations, including the United States and China, is
preventing attacks by international militant groups, including prominent ones
like Daesh. Nevertheless, some analysts are skeptical about the regime's
ability to finance such a program, and human rights organizations are concerned
that resources might be redirected toward suppressing protests.
Until now, details about the Taliban's plans
for expanding and managing mass surveillance, including their access to the US
plan, have not been publicly disclosed.
The mass deployment of cameras, which will
target "important points" in Kabul and other locations, is part of a
new security strategy expected to take four years for full implementation,
according to Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior.
"We are presently working on a security
map for Kabul, which is being developed by security experts and is a
time-consuming process," Qani explained. "We already have two maps,
one created by the USA for the previous government and the second by
Turkey."
The timeframe for the Turkish plan's
development was not specified.
A spokesperson from the US State Department
clarified that the United States was not "partnering" with the
Taliban and emphasized that it was the Taliban's responsibility to ensure they
do not provide a safe haven for terrorists.
A request for comment from the Turkish
government went unanswered.
Regarding the discussion with Huawei, Qani
stated that the Taliban had a "simple chat" with the company in
August, but no contracts or firm plans were established. In August, Bloomberg
News reported a "verbal agreement" between Huawei and the Taliban
regarding a surveillance system installation contract, citing an insider
familiar with the discussions. However, Huawei stated in September that no
plans were discussed during the meeting.
While a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
claimed to be unaware of specific discussions, she emphasized China's support
for the peace and reconstruction process in Afghanistan and its backing of
Chinese enterprises in practical cooperation.
Currently, Kabul and other cities have over
62,000 cameras, monitored from a central control room, according to the
Taliban. The last major upgrade to Kabul's camera system occurred in 2008,
under the previous government's reliance on Western-led international forces
for security.
Amrullah Saleh, then-vice president, had
announced a significant upgrade to Kabul's camera surveillance system in early
2021 when NATO-led international forces were gradually withdrawing. Saleh
indicated that the $100 million plan was supported by the NATO coalition.
However, Saleh stated in September that the
"infrastructure" for the 2021 plan had been destroyed, leaving it
unclear whether the plan he referenced was similar to the ones claimed by the
Taliban or whether the administration would adapt them.
Jonathan Schroden, an Afghanistan expert with
the Center for Naval Analyses, suggested that a surveillance system would be
valuable for the Taliban in their efforts to prevent groups like the Islamic
State from attacking their members or government positions in Kabul.
Already, the Taliban closely monitor urban
centers with security force vehicles and regular checkpoints. Concerns persist
among rights advocates and regime opponents that enhanced surveillance could
target civil society members and protesters.
While the Taliban rarely confirm arrests, the
Committee to Protect Journalists reports that at least 64 journalists have been
detained since their takeover. Protests against restrictions on women in Kabul
have been forcefully disbanded by security forces, according to protesters,
videos, and Reuters witnesses.
Implementing a mass surveillance system under
the guise of "national security" sets a precedent for the Taliban to
continue their policies that violate fundamental rights, warns Matt Mahmoudi
from Amnesty International. The Taliban, however, vehemently denies that an
upgraded surveillance system would infringe upon the rights of Afghans,
emphasizing that it will adhere to Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits
recording in private spaces.
Security analysts highlight practical
challenges the plan may face, including intermittent daily power cuts in
Afghanistan, which could disrupt cameras connected to the central grid, as only
40 percent of Afghans have access to electricity, according to the state-owned
power provider.
Additionally, securing funding poses a
significant hurdle for the Taliban, given their economic contraction and the
withdrawal of aid following their takeover. In 2022, the administration claimed
an annual budget of over $2 billion, with defense spending comprising the
largest component, according to the Taliban's army chief.
The discussion with Huawei occurred several
months after China met with Pakistan and the Taliban's acting foreign minister,
during which the parties emphasized cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.
Tackling militancy also plays a pivotal role in the 2020 troop-withdrawal
agreement that the United States struck with the Taliban.
China has publicly expressed concerns about
the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an armed separatist organization in
its western Xinjiang region. ETIM is believed to have a small number of
fighters in Afghanistan, according to security officials and UN reports,
although ETIM could not be reached for comment.
Daesh has also posed threats to foreigners in
Afghanistan, as evidenced by its attacks on a hotel frequented by Chinese
businesspeople last year, resulting in injuries to several Chinese citizens. A
Russian diplomat was killed in one of its attacks.
The Taliban denies that militancy poses a
threat to their rule and asserts that Afghan soil will not be used as a
launchpad for attacks elsewhere. They have publicly announced raids on Daesh
cells in Kabul.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan
Thomas West stated in a September public seminar that since early 2023, Taliban
raids in Afghanistan have removed at least eight key leaders of the Islamic
State in Afghanistan, some of whom were responsible for external plotting.
While urban surveillance may help prevent
attacks, analysts suggest that it is unlikely to contribute significantly to
the ultimate defeat of Daesh, whose main bases are in the eastern mountainous
regions of Afghanistan, not the cities.
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