**Taliban's Expanding Surveillance System: A Double-Edged Sword**

**The Taliban's ambitious surveillance system aims to reduce crime but raises alarms about potential rights abuses and privacy infringements, particularly for women.**

In a bustling control center, the Taliban's police force boasts an extensive network of 90,000 CCTV cameras to oversee daily life in Kabul. Khalid Zadran, a spokesperson for the Taliban police, confidently asserts, “We monitor the entire city of Kabul from here." Authorities tout the surveillance as a crime-fighting tool, but critics emphasize its potential to suppress dissent and enforce strict moral codes under Taliban rule.

The BBC is the first international outlet permitted to explore this operation, revealing how police sit in rows, scrutinizing live feeds from thousands of cameras aimed at scrutinizing the lives of Kabul’s six million residents. From license plates to facial expressions, everything is under surveillance. “When we notice gatherings that seem suspicious, especially in certain neighborhoods, we alert the local police to investigate,” Zadran explains.

Having faced daily threats from the Taliban and Islamic State militants under the previous government, crime rates soared in Kabul. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, they pledged to enhance security. The leap from 850 cameras previously to 90,000 today marks a significant shift in their approach to law enforcement. However, alongside surveillance, the Taliban has implemented severe restrictions on basic rights and freedoms, particularly those of women, as they face increasing isolation without formal international recognition.

Equipped with facial recognition capabilities, the surveillance system categorizes individuals by age, gender, and even physical characteristics like beards or masks. “On clear days, we can zoom in on individuals from kilometers away,” Zadran adds, showcasing a camera aimed at a busy intersection. Taliban forces reportedly monitor each other too, ensuring internal compliance.

The Taliban claims this extensive system has led to a 30% dip in crime rates, but independent verification remains elusive. Human rights groups express trepidation about who is being watched and for what purposes. Amnesty International argues that such surveillance under the pretenses of national security illustrates the Taliban's intent to continue violating fundamental rights, especially those of women, who face severe limitations in public engagement, education, and employment.

Fariba, a recent graduate, fears the cameras may be used to enforce compliance with stringent dress codes for women. “There is significant concern that surveillance cameras will be used to monitor women's hijabs too,” she warns. The Taliban contends only city police have access to the footage, denying involvement from the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry, their morality police division.

Despite assurances, concerns linger about privacy and data protection, especially since Afghanistan lacks adequate regulations for the amassed footage. The Taliban claims footage is stored for just three months, under secure conditions. However, rights activists stress the lack of transparency and oversight is troubling.

The control center's equipment appears to be made by Chinese firm Dahua, yet the Taliban has denied collaborating with Huawei for further camera installations. For some Afghans, the cost of this surveillance network is felt personally. Residents like Shella report being coerced into contributing financially for the cameras’ installation near their homes. “We had to take loans to cover the costs,” she laments, emphasizing that financial burdens are ill-timed in a country already ravaged by economic despair.

The average income in Afghanistan has plummeted, and with 30 million people in dire need of humanitarian aid according to the UN, the cameras’ utility becomes questionable. Those who refuse to pay may face utility cuts, leaving families to bear the burden of a system that may do more harm than good.

Jaber, a local vegetable seller, articulates the prevailing sentiment among citizens: "We are treated like trash, denied opportunities, and regarded as worthless by the authorities.” Despite claims of altruism, citizens remain skeptical about the motives behind the Taliban's surveillance tactics, with many fearing that the deepening watch on their lives only serves to entrench their sense of powerlessness further.