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Taliban Confirms Data Breach in Unprecedented Cyberattack

Unprecedented cyberattack targets Taliban government, leaking documents from 21 ministries and agencies online. [Image via Afghanistan International]

The Taliban Ministry of Communications has confirmed that documents from multiple government departments have been leaked in what appears to be an unprecedented cyberattack.

On Thursday, the ministry stated that preliminary investigations suggest the documents were obtained sporadically from individual computers lacking proper security measures. However, Taliban officials maintain that their central government database has not been compromised.

Unprecedented Cyberattack on Taliban Government

An unidentified group launched a cyberattack on the Taliban administration’s database, publishing classified documents from 21 ministries and independent agencies online.

In an official statement, the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications said: “Based on the leaked documents, many belong to departments that previously lacked dedicated systems.”

The ministry downplayed the breach, claiming that most of the leaked files were already publicly accessible and related to past years. Officials further insisted that “no system has been hacked, all systems remain secure, and there are no issues.”

Despite these assurances, the Taliban has accused the leak of being an attempt to mislead public opinion through the media.

Also See: ICC Calls for Arrest of Taliban Leaders Over the Rights Violations of Women

Government Agencies Affected

The data breach has reportedly exposed information from key ministries, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Information and Culture; Ministry of Mines; Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and the Taliban’s Supreme Court.

Thousands of leaked documents have been published on a website called “TalibLeaks.” However, the identities of the hackers and the details surrounding the website remain unknown, with no group yet claiming responsibility for the cyberattack.

This news is sourced from Afghanistan International and is intended for informational purposes only.

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