Taliban develop smartphone app to advance propaganda efforts

The launch of the app was reported by the United States-based SITE Intel Group, which monitors militant social media, on Friday. according to Strait times.

The app includes content such as official statements and videos from the Taliban, which has sought insurgency in the country for more than 14 years since it was ousted in 2001.

The app can be downloaded from Google’s Play Store.

The app adds to the Taliban’s digital campaign to attract more audience worldwide. The movement has an updated Website run in five languages, including English and Arabic, as well as Twitter and Facebook accounts providing daily reports on its insurgency.

The group’s website and Twitter accounts have been taken down several times as the Afghan government seeks to prevent the group’s communications efforts.

“The app will help Taliban to further psychologically weaken Afghanistan by their propaganda reports,” said Jawid Kohistani, an independent security analyst.

Taliban spokesmen did not return calls to their mobile phones.

Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said he was not aware of the Taliban app.