Afghanistan's Interior Ministry says the number of security cameras installed across the country has exceeded 100,000, with work continuing to expand more advanced and smart surveillance systems.
Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Matin Qani said high-quality cameras have been installed on highways, at dams, international airports, markets and especially in Kabul. He said the current installation phase has been completed and more cameras may be added according to security needs.
Qani said the cameras help maintain security, identify suspects and follow criminal incidents. TOLOnews reported that the large-scale installation began in Kabul in 2022–23 and later expanded to other provinces.
The ministry's latest announcement did not identify the companies or countries supplying the cameras or surveillance software. Independent Persian also reported that it remains unclear how many of the more than 100,000 cameras are government-operated rather than privately owned, or how many are connected to a central government network.
On facial recognition, the Interior Ministry has previously said some cameras in Kabul and on certain highways have facial-recognition capability. A BBC report in February 2025 also described facial-recognition tracking features in Kabul's surveillance system.
Reports in 2023 said Afghan officials had discussed possible cooperation with Chinese technology company Huawei, but later reporting said Huawei denied involvement in the project. In the latest announcement about more than 100,000 cameras, the Interior Ministry did not name Huawei or any other foreign company as a current supplier or partner.
The ministry says it is continuing to develop smarter surveillance capabilities. Independent verification of the system's overall coverage, operational status and effectiveness remains limited, while unreliable electricity supply in some cities has also been cited as a constraint.
Source: TOLOnews, 14 September 2026; Independent Persian, 16 September 2026; earlier TOLOnews/BBC reporting for facial-recognition context.