A sweeping Taliban crackdown on internet access is expanding across Afghanistan, with more provinces ban fibre optic connectivity after the country’s supreme leader ordered restrictions to “prevent immorality.” This marks the first time the Taliban have enforced such a wide-reaching decision since they regained control in August 2021, leaving millions of people without reliable Wi-Fi in homes, offices, schools, and businesses.
The shutdown first appeared earlier this week in Balkh province. Within a short time, the disruption spread to northern regions including Kunduz, Baghlan, Badakhshan, and Takhar. In the south, residents in Kandahar, Helmand, Nangarhar, and Uruzgan also reported that authorities had cut high-speed internet lines. While mobile internet services are still functioning, users describe them as slow, unstable, and often unusable for daily needs.
Local authorities confirmed that the decision came directly from Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Officials say they took the move to ban fibre optic internet to prevent vice, and that they will introduce alternative options across the country to meet connectivity needs. Balkh spokesman Attaullah Zaid shared this in a statement posted on X.
The abrupt disruption has thrown Afghan households and businesses into serious difficulty. Fibre-optic infrastructure served as the backbone of the country’s digital connectivity. For many citizens, the internet is not just for entertainment, it is essential for trade, education, and communication with the outside world.
Business owners say the impact is already severe. “If we don’t respond to emails from clients in Dubai and India on time, we will lose all our contracts,” said Atta Mohammed, a marble trader in Kandahar. His frustration was clear. “I haven’t slept in two nights. Our business will collapse if this continues.” Many believe that when authorities ban fibre optic internet, it directly threatens the survival of small and medium businesses.
Students are also facing major challenges. A university student in Kabul, speaking anonymously, described the growing sense of isolation. “We are being cut off from the world. This is not about morality. “This is about control,” the student said, reflecting concerns that many young Afghans share.
Taliban officials, however, defend the move as necessary to protect society. In Nangarhar, spokesman Qureshi Badloun stated that recent studies indicated online platforms were harming Afghanistan’s “economic, social, cultural, and religious foundations” and encouraging “immoral behavior.” According to officials, the decision to ban fibre optic internet is part of a broader effort to address these concerns.
Authorities have previously expressed worries about issues such as pornography and online communication between men and women. “This action is needed to prevent immoral activities,” Badloun said, adding that the authorities would provide alternative systems for essential uses. However, they have given no clear explanation about what those alternatives will look like, particularly in rural regions where mobile signals are already weak.
The move has drawn strong criticism from Afghan media organizations and human rights groups. The Afghanistan Media Support Organization described the blackout as a serious blow to freedom of expression. “This action not only disrupts access to vital information and services for millions but also poses a major threat to media work and free speech,” the group said.
International voices have also spoken out. Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad criticized the policy, calling it “absurd.” He pointed out that many Islamic countries address online concerns by filtering harmful content rather than shutting down entire networks. “If pornography is really the concern, it can easily be filtered,” he said.
This latest restriction forms part of a broader pattern of policies that the Taliban introduced since returning to power. The Taliban have barred girls from secondary education. Many women have lost their workplace positions. Strict rules on dress and public behavior now face enforcement. Furthermore, the Taliban have banned music in vehicles. Women must cover their faces. Men also receive instructions to grow beards..
The situation is particularly striking given recent developments. Just last year, officials celebrated the completion of Afghanistan’s 9,350-kilometre fiber-optic network, calling it a key project to help reduce poverty and improve connectivity. Today, authorities are restricting that same infrastructure as they continue to ban fibre optic internet across multiple regions.
Foreign governments and aid organizations warn that the blackout will increase Afghanistan’s isolation. One European diplomat, speaking anonymously, emphasized the importance of connectivity. “Internet access is not a luxury it is a necessity. Cutting it off will push Afghanistan deeper into poverty and isolation,” the diplomat said.
For ordinary Afghans, the consequences are immediate and painful. Businesses are losing international deals, students cannot attend online classes, and families are struggling to stay in touch with relatives abroad.
“This is not just a small inconvenience,” said a shopkeeper in Kunduz. “It feels like a wall is being built around us.”
The Taliban’s decision to restrict high-speed internet in several provinces reflects its wider effort to regulate daily life under its strict interpretation of Islamic law. While authorities argue that the move is necessary to prevent immoral behavior, critics believe it is another step toward silencing the population and isolating the country from the rest of the world.
