The digital divide and its impact on the socio-economic developmental outcomes of developing countries has in the last couple of years been a key development agenda at major international fora. It could be argued that, the problem of the digital divide is not just a technological one; in fact it is not merely an issue of a divide between ‘technological-haves’ and the ‘technological-have-nots’. The view is that the threat posed by the digital divide to developing countries is more of an economic development problem than a technological one. The deployment, exploitation and the development of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to support the process of transforming these countries and move them towards information and knowledge economy is the central question which needs to be address within the context of the digital divide. Related to this is the question of how best to broaden and enhance the effective participation of these countries in the global ICT policy.

The Government of Afghanistan recognizes that knowledge, information and communication are at the core of human progress, endeavor and well being, and therefore have a vital role in reconstruction and development of our devastated country. The dramatic increase in the volume, speed and ubiquity of information flows that has been made possible through new information and communication technologies and has already brought about profound changes in peoples’ lives and is creating enormous new opportunities around the world. Afghans have to grasp this opportunity and leapfrog to the new age of information.