Several sources at Kabul International Airport have reported that the Taliban are prohibiting Afghan travellers from carrying laptops while leaving Afghanistan.

According to these sources, Taliban personnel at all inspection points are instructing travellers not to bring computers and hard drives.

One source informed Afghanistan International that if someone receives permission from Taliban officials at the airport, their computer will undergo thorough examination by the airport's technical department.

This directive reportedly have been issued by the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, as per the source.

Another source told Afghanistan International that travellers returning to Afghanistan are allowed to bring their computers, but Afghan travellers are not permitted to carry computers with them.

The source noted that very few travellers at the Kabul International Airport have permits to carry computers.

Foreigners, however, are allowed to bring their computers, but they must register them at the airport upon entry, according to the same source.

A source from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Afghanistan International that the ministry permits employees of foreign institutions and some guests to transfer computers.

This ministry employee added that foreign employees of foreign institutions mostly obtain permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or are granted permission through their job cards.

Abdul Jabbar Khoshhal, who travelled from Kabul to the United States two weeks ago on a special immigrant visa, told Afghanistan International that the Taliban at the Kabul airport instructed him to leave his computer with his family.

He expressed surprise at the lack of explanation from the Taliban regarding the computer ban, noting that they only provided two options: leave the computer with family or have it broken in front of him, emphasising that taking it out was not allowed.

This marks the first instance of such a prohibition on carrying computers at the Kabul International Airport under the Taliban rule. The Taliban has not officially commented on this matter.