Taliban's Surveillance Strategy Repurposes American Plans and Huawei Consultations

Taliban soldiers stand guard


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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