Date: 25/06/1404
Reliable sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban have cut off wireless (Wi-Fi) internet services locally known as Wafa—in Kandahar, Uruzgan, Helmand, Nimroz, and Balkh Provinces. Wireless internet in Afghanistan is typically provided through home modems and fixed wireless devices.

The shutdown follows the earlier blocking of fiber-optic internet services in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh Province. Sources within the Taliban confirmed that the decision was implemented on the direct orders of Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada.

According to independent sources, this move forms part of a gradual nationwide effort to restrict or disable fiber-optic and Wi-Fi internet services. Over the past three weeks, fiber-optic internet services across Afghanistan have reportedly been either completely cut off or severely degraded.

Experts warn that while internet restrictions may serve as a short-term mechanism for information control, they will have serious long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s economy, education system, technological development, and access to information.

The expansion of wireless and fiber-optic internet shutdowns to at least five provinces signals a coordinated and centralized strategy by the Taliban to assert control over digital infrastructure nationwide. Unlike temporary or localized disruptions, these restrictions appear deliberate, progressive, and ideologically driven, with implementation reportedly ordered by the Taliban’s top leadership. By selectively disabling stable, high-capacity internet services while allowing limited mobile access, the Taliban significantly curtail information flows, media activity, education, and economic operations, while retaining surveillance and enforcement leverage.