Mobile networks in Afghanistan: operators, codes and how credit works
If you use a mobile in Afghanistan — or send credit there from abroad — the same questions come up: which network is which, how do you move credit within a network, and which USSD codes in Afghanistan do you need? This guide explains the five major Afghan operators — Roshan, MTN, Etisalat, Afghan Wireless and Salaam — and the key codes.
Two different things: transferring credit or topping up from abroad
Before the codes, one important distinction. If you are already in Afghanistan and want to move credit from one number to another on the same network, you use the operator's credit-transfer codes (listed per network below). If you want to top up an Afghan number from abroad, you don't need any code — it works directly online.
With Fonmoney you can top up a mobile in Afghanistan on all five networks from abroad — the credit reaches the number shortly after payment. The codes below are for anyone managing credit inside Afghanistan.
Roshan
Roshan belongs to the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and is one of the country's largest networks, with around 5.2 million customers across all 34 provinces. Roshan also runs the M-Paisa mobile-money service.
| Function | Code |
|---|---|
| Check balance | *444# or call 444 |
| Transfer credit (M-Sharakat) | *123*recipient*amount# or SMS "number#amount" to 123 |
| Data package | *555*4# |
| Mobile money (M-Paisa) | *123# |
| Customer service | 333 (from other networks: 079 997 1333) |
Official site: roshan.af
MTN Afghanistan (now Atoma)
MTN Afghanistan was handed over to M1 New Ventures in 2025 and now operates under the name Atoma. The network keeps running, but codes may change during the transition.
| Function | Code |
|---|---|
| Check balance | *310# |
| Transfer credit | *344*3# (then follow the menu) |
| Data package / data balance | *344# / balance: *344*10# |
| Customer service | 779 or 0772111779 |
Group info: mtn.com
Etisalat Afghanistan
Etisalat Afghanistan is a subsidiary of Etisalat (e&) from the UAE and has been in the country since 2007. These codes come from Etisalat's official site.
| Function | Code |
|---|---|
| Check balance | *123# or call 555, then 2 |
| Transfer credit | *125*destination*amount# |
| Emergency credit (loan) | *888*4# |
| Data package (example) | *888*9*2*6# |
| Customer service | 888 or 0786-786-786 |
Official site: etisalat.af
Afghan Wireless (AWCC)
Afghan Wireless brought the first mobile service to Afghanistan in 2002 and now runs 4G nationwide. Credit transfer is capped at 100 AFN per transaction and 200 AFN per day.
| Function | Code |
|---|---|
| Check balance | *123# |
| Transfer credit | *444*1*070XXXXXXX*amount#, then *444*2# to confirm |
| Data package | *255# |
| Customer service | 152 (from other networks: 0093 700 830 830) |
Official site: afghan-wireless.com
Salaam
Salaam is the mobile arm of Afghan Telecom — state-owned and active since 2013, known for low tariffs.
| Function | Code |
|---|---|
| Check balance | *888# |
| Transfer credit | *741*number*amount# |
| Data package (1 GB/day example) | *740*12*1# (deactivate: *740*12*9#) |
| Customer service | 074 444 4444 |
Official site: salaam.af
Sending credit from abroad
If you want to help family or friends in Afghanistan, you don't need to know any code. You enter the Afghan number, choose the amount and pay — whichever of the five networks it is. The credit reaches the recipient shortly after.
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