WhatsApp & Telegram banned in Afghanistan for 20 days

Afghanistan has ordered a ban on two of the instant messaging services- WhatsApp and telegram due to the problem what they are terming as technical glitches. This suspension of services has been ordered for 20 days.

This move could curb the freedom of expression as the Afghanistan government has asked several private telecommunication companies and government companies to suspend WhatsApp & Telegram instant messaging services in the country.

Till now only a government internet provider company Salaam Network has followed the order and has stopped these two app services but the other private networks are still running these messaging services.

This move has ignited a backlash on social media with users terming this blockage as an attack on their right to free speech.

This ban on these social messaging sites has been requested by the country's security agency i.e. National Directorate of Security in recommendation of the country's intelligence.

This ban has been brought in awake of the situation that most of the terrorist organaization and Taliban are using this social sites for conversation as these messaging apps provide end to end encryption of the messages. So these apps becomes a safe place for them to have their messages exchanged.

One of the journalist reacting against this ban said that now they are banning these social messaging apps but they can even ban the media in the near future.

Therefore this might be termed as a hindrance to the freedom of speech for the common people but this initiative can be quite useful in cracking down on terrorist outfits which has encompassed Afghanistan for long.

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