Afghanistan Reopens Global Phone Service for First Time in 7 Years

KABUL, Afghanistan — For the first time in seven years, war-ravaged Afghanistan has direct telephone service to several countries, the telecommunications minister said Monday.

Afghanistan is now linked by telephone to the United Arab Emirates, Canada, the United States and Britain, said Mohammed Rahim, the Taliban minister for telecommunications.

U.S.-based Telecommunications Systems International signed a contract with Afghanistan’s Taliban religious militia last year before the imposition of sanctions by the United States and the United Nations.

In July, the U.S. barred investment and trade with the Taliban, which rules 90% of Afghanistan. In November, the U.N. imposed limited sanctions.

The sanctions were imposed to press the Taliban army to hand over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden for trial either in the United States or a third country.