Afghan President's Calls Secured From Eavesdropping

A spokesman Nasratullah Rahimi says that new high-tech network is reliable and that new SIM cards have been given to President Hamid Karzai, the vice presidents, and other government members to connect to the network.

The telephone conversations of the Afghan president and his ministers have been secured from eavesdropping.

The Ministry of Information and Technology announced on April 18 that an advanced security system installed to secure telephone conversations to and from the office of the president has been activated.

Ministry spokesman Nasratullah Rahimi told RFE/RL that the new high-tech network is reliable and that new SIM cards have been given to President Hamid Karzai, the vice presidents, and other government members to connect to the network.

Rahimi did not give any more details, saying that the information is classified as "intelligence agencies, especially the ones from our neighboring countries, want to break into our systems."

Karzai is expected to leave office after the official results of Afghanistan's presidential and provincial councils elections held on April 5 are announced.