Kathmandu, July 18 -- Nepal has banned the messaging app Telegram, citing a rise in fraud and money laundering, the country's telecom regulator said on Friday.

In a notice, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) instructed all internet service providers to immediately restrict access to the platform, saying it had been increasingly misused for criminal activity.

"Considering the misuse of Telegram for fraud and money laundering, all service providers have been directed to restrict access to the platform without delay," the NTA said.

Telegram, launched in 2013 by Russian-born brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its strong encryption, privacy features, and support for large group chats and bro...