Taliban government denies nationwide internet ban in Afghanistan

(Web Desk): The Taliban government has denied reports of a nationwide internet shutdown in Afghanistan.

According to international news agencies, the clarification came from the Taliban following recent large-scale communication blackouts across the country.

As reported by Al Jazeera, Taliban officials issued a statement in a WhatsApp group of Pakistani journalists, stating that there is no truth to the rumors of an internet ban. "The government has not imposed any restriction on the internet," the statement said.

The statement emphasized that the disruption was due to technical reasons — specifically, the need to replace outdated fiber optic cables.

This marks the Taliban government’s first official statement on the matter, following a major disruption to telephone and internet services across the country that began on Monday.

According to global internet monitoring group NetBlocks, a "complete internet blackout" was recorded in Afghanistan, a country with a population of approximately 43 million, on Monday.

While the Taliban has not directly taken responsibility for the latest outage, in the past, internet services have been suspended in several provinces as part of efforts claimed to be targeting "moral corruption."

On September 16, authorities in Balkh province confirmed an internet shutdown. Similarly, restrictions have been reported in recent months in Badakhshan, Takhar, Helmand, Kandahar, and Nangarhar.

An Afghan government official told French news agency AFP that approximately "8,000 to 9,000 telecommunications towers" have been ordered to shut down until further notice.

Meanwhile, TOLO News reported that the Taliban has issued a one-week deadline to suspend 3G and 4G mobile internet services.

The disruption of internet and telephone services has not only impacted public communication but has also severely affected banking, commerce, and aviation sectors.

It is worth noting that since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, restrictions have been imposed on women’s employment, girls’ education, and women’s freedom of movement without a male guardian. Beauty salons have also been shut down, and women are banned from visiting public places unaccompanied.