Local sources report that fiber optic internet services have been shut down in Kandahar and Helmand as the Taliban expand restrictions on free access to the internet. According to these sources, since Tuesday afternoon, both households and government offices in the two southern provinces have been left without high-speed internet.
Previously, the Taliban began limiting internet services in Balkh province. On Monday, fiber optic services there were halted following a direct order from the group’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The Taliban have justified these measures as an effort to “prevent immoral acts” and promised to establish alternative domestic routes for essential purposes.
At present, the only means of digital connectivity in Kandahar and Helmand is through mobile phone networks, which face challenges such as low speed and instability. These actions have sparked widespread concern among residents, digital rights advocates, and civil society groups.
Widespread internet shutdowns not only disrupt public access to free information but also negatively impact the operations of service providers, aid organizations, and communication between citizens and the outside world. Civil society groups and users are calling for an immediate review of these decisions and an end to the Taliban’s restrictions on access to information.
