Date: 25/06/1404
Sources confirmed to Amu that telecom internet services were cut off in Kandahar Province on Tuesday afternoon. Earlier, similar restrictions had been imposed in Balkh Province, where local sources reported severe limitations on internet access.

According to multiple sources, the state-owned Afghan Telecom’s fiber-optic internet services in Balkh were completely shut down on the direct orders of Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada. The spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Balkh confirmed the shutdown, stating that the fiber-optic line had been fully disconnected “to prevent vices,” and that an alternative internal route was being developed.

Residents of Balkh reported that the shutdown has caused serious disruptions, including the paralysis of operations at the Passport Department and the Balkh Customs Administration. While Taliban officials claim that only fiber-optic services were affected, residents stated that Afghan Telecom’s internet services were entirely unavailable. Mobile internet from other providers reportedly remains active.

Sources also indicated that the decision has sparked internal disagreement within the Taliban, with at least six cabinet ministers reportedly planning to travel to Kandahar to raise concerns with the Taliban leader over the consequences of the shutdown. Media activists warned that the move represents an escalation in digital repression and a further attempt to suppress freedom of expression and civil liberties.

The coordinated shutdown of fiber-optic and fixed-line internet services in Balkh and Kandahar marks a significant escalation in the Taliban’s use of digital infrastructure as a tool of control. Unlike temporary or localized disruptions, these shutdowns were reportedly ordered at the highest level of Taliban leadership and explicitly justified as a measure to “prevent vices,” indicating ideological rather than technical or security motivations. By disabling stable, high-capacity internet while leaving limited mobile access intact, the Taliban restrict access to information, disrupt governance and economic activity, and retain surveillance leverage. The resulting paralysis of government services underscores the broader societal costs of this policy, while internal dissent within the Taliban suggests growing recognition of its damaging consequences. This pattern reflects an expanding strategy of digital repression aimed at constraining civic space, media activity, and public accountability across Afghanistan.