Post by : Rameen Ariff

Kabul, Afghanistan – The Taliban government on Wednesday denied claims of a nationwide internet ban, stating that the ongoing blackout is due to worn-out fiber optic cables being replaced. This marks the first official comment from the Taliban regarding the recent communication disruptions that have affected banking, commerce, aviation, and daily life across Afghanistan.

Several provinces reported last month that internet access had been shut down, with rumors circulating that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had ordered the ban to curb immorality. However, Taliban officials clarified in a brief statement shared on a WhatsApp group with Pakistani journalists that there was no ban. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid explained on social media platform X that the blackout resulted from “decaying fiber optic infrastructure” and that repairs are underway.

The announcement did not specify when internet and telephone services would be fully restored. Netblocks, an internet monitoring group, first reported the outage on Monday, noting that connectivity across the country, including Kabul, was collapsing. Telephone networks were also disrupted.

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Afghan airline Kam Air confirmed that flights to Kabul, suspended since Monday due to the outage, are expected to resume later Wednesday. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations warned that the internet blackout poses major challenges for relief operations. Save the Children emphasized, “Reliable communications are essential for our ability to operate, deliver life-saving assistance, and coordinate with partners.”

The Taliban’s clarification comes amid growing concerns that prolonged internet disruptions could severely impact commerce, education, and humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.

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