Date: 24/06/1404
Residents of Mazar-i-Sharif reported that the Taliban have cut off Wi-Fi (fixed-line) internet services across the city. Telecommunications companies confirmed that the shutdown was carried out on the orders of Taliban authorities. According to residents, Afghan Telecom’s cable internet and other fixed-line providers were suspended, while mobile internet services remain active. The Taliban have not provided any explanation for the decision. Telecom companies stated that they are attempting to restore access.

The Taliban’s decision to cut off Wi-Fi (fixed-line) internet services in Mazar-i-Sharif reflects a targeted approach to digital control rather than a blanket communications blackout. By disabling cable-based internet—widely used by households, media workers, students, and businesses—while leaving mobile internet active, the authorities retain surveillance and throttling capacity while significantly degrading stable, high-bandwidth access. The absence of any public justification underscores the arbitrary nature of the restriction and aligns with broader Taliban practices of using infrastructure controls to suppress information flows, restrict civic space, and discipline urban populations without formal legal process.