Taliban beat, warn Salam subscribers

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Militants have warned residents of the Qarabagh district of southern Ghazni province against using SIM cards of the state-run telecom company.

Several locals, using the Salam SIM cards, were beaten and their mobile phone sets broken by the Taliban, officials and residents told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Nasrullah, belonging to the Mirwais area of Qarabagh, said: “The Taliban beat me with rifle butts before smashing my phone set. They also warned me against using the SALAM card.”

Dur Mohammad, a resident of Mirakhan area, said: “The insurgents broke my phone and thrashed me for using this type of SIM. But now I am secretly using that.”

Fazlur Rahman Nazarwal, the administrative head of the district, confirmed residents of some areas had been threatened by the Taliban not to subscribe to the services of the Salam telecom company. 

He said: “This has happened in areas controlled by the rebels. One antenna of the company was installed here a few days ago; it’s working well.”

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the company would extend its services in the province in defiance of Taliban threats.

He added: “The company has been set up to offer services in areas where other firms are unwilling to operate.”

 But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied of Salam customers had been beaten. “Why will the Taliban ban a company whose services also benefit the movement?” he asked.

mm/mud

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