The Taliban government of Afghanistan is facing a major crisis as hackers have successfully carried out a large-scale cyber attack on its computer systems. The hackers managed to steal over 50GB of documents and files, which were then published online by a group known as TabiLeaks.
The leaked records have exposed shocking information, including the imprisonment of over 1400 women and 16,000 men by the Taliban. Additionally, it was revealed that around 80 foreign nationals, including six women, are also being held in Taliban prisons. The leaked data also showed that travel restrictions have been imposed on more than 8,000 former government workers, preventing them from leaving Afghanistan. Furthermore, Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada has banned overseas academic travel without his direct authorization.
TabiLeaks claims that all the stolen files were taken within the last year from compromised Taliban government networks. The leak includes information from 21 different Taliban ministries and government agencies, such as the Afghan Food & Drug Administration, Afghan Telecom Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court.
One of the most revealing revelations from the leaked documents is the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice conducting studies on enforcing the hijab and religious policing in 12 provinces. The documents also suggest that Taliban officials have been monitoring foreign organizations in Bamiyan Province, accusing them of promoting Western cultural values.
In a scathing remark, the hackers behind TabiLeaks posted on Twitter that “GDPR does not apply in Afghanistan, just like there are no women’s rights.” Despite confirming the authenticity of the leaked documents, the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications denied that any systems were hacked, claiming that the files were publicly accessible for years.
Taliban representatives have dismissed the leak as an attempt to manipulate public opinion through the media. They argue that the information was taken out of context and is being used to tarnish the image of the Taliban government.
The leak has raised serious concerns about the security of government agencies in Afghanistan and the treatment of prisoners under Taliban rule. It has also sparked a debate about the lack of transparency and accountability within the Taliban government.
As the Taliban government grapples with the aftermath of this cyber attack, questions remain about the extent of the data breach and the potential impact on national security. The TabiLeaks incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of government systems to cyber threats and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting sensitive information.