When PUBG and TikTok become spaces of freedom in a country devastated by war

Bullets whistle, explosions can be heard in the distance. In Kabul, these noises could cause panic if they did not come directly from the mobile phone of a young man, concentrating on a game of the video game PUBG.

In an Afghanistan devastated by more than four decades of war, young people are fascinated by this combat video game, very popular throughout the world, but violent, and which the Taliban intend to ban to prevent it from corrupting their young people.

With the video platform TikTok – which is also frowned upon by the Taliban – it constitutes for young Afghans one of the few spaces of freedom, and one of the last gateways to the outside world.

“We live in this country but we are not alive. We don’t know what’s going to happen to us in the next second. It’s our only way to pass the time,” says Abdul Musawir Raufi, looking up from his phone.

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Since they returned to power in August, the Taliban have not been as strict as in their previous regime, between 1996 and 2001, when they prohibited television, cinema, photography, and almost all forms of entertainment, considered immoral.

In the capital, some arcades and bowling alleys are still open, and some sports can still be played. But fundamentalists have banned foreign music and seriesor include women, and many Kabul residents they prefer not to risk going out just for fun.

“The fun we had before, the laughter with friends (…), all of that is over,” adds Abdul, a 23-year-old student. Most of his friends, with whom he used to play football, have fled the country in the chaotic last days of August.

Afghanistan has been at war for more than 40 years led by the Taliban. (Photo: EFE)

ONLY FUN

PUBG is a game in which virtual characters, equipped with firearms, fight mercilessly to become the last survivor. Published by the Chinese digital giant, Tencent, it has become a global phenomenon and its mobile version It has been downloaded more than 1 billion times.

For Abdul, who got hooked on the game four years ago thanks to a partner, PUBG is the way to keep in touch with his friends and virtually meet players of other nationalities.

“One of the advantages of PUBG is that it allows us to get to know the culture of other countries, their language, and the bonds created are strong,” emphasizes the young Afghan.

Some are curious and want to know more about Afghanistan, others have a bad image of the country. “Those who appreciate us speak to us very kindly. But those who don’t like Afghans end up abruptly out of the game,” he says.

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With the economic crisis that accompanied the Taliban’s rise to power, 20-year-old Abdul Mujeeb, also a student, has increasingly taken refuge in PUBG.

“Now I play more (…), because I have stopped my studies and I don’t have a job. So I occupy my time with fun activities,” he says, “there is no security in the city, our families don’t let us go out to go to recreational places (…) The only fun we have is at home, and it’s TikTok and PUBG.”

FORBIDDEN BUT ACCESSIBLE

The Government ordered in April the prohibition of these two applications, accused of leading the young generation “to the loss”. However, they can be accessed without the need for a virtual private network (VPN).

But the issue is currently under discussion with Afghan telecommunications companies, and “these two apps will be completely banned,” Afghan government deputy spokesman Inamullah Samangani reiterated.

According to figures from the specialized site DataReportal, 9.2 million Afghans have internet access in 2022out of a population of 40.2 million inhabitants, and 4.15 million (82% men) use social networks.

Source: Elcomercio