Taliban Orders Overnight Internet Shutdown in Herat

In an unprecedented move, the Taliban shut down internet services across Herat province on Monday night, September 21, from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. According to local internet providers, the order came directly from Taliban authorities and affected all fixed-line internet services.

Although services were restored after the 12-hour blackout, Taliban officials did not provide an official explanation for the decision. Local sources speculate that the measure may have been linked to security concerns, though it is not officially connected to the recent suspension of fiber-optic internet in several other provinces.

Over the past ten days, Taliban authorities have cut fiber-optic internet in parts of Afghanistan. While some provinces have turned to DSL connections through landline phones, residents in Herat have reportedly relied on the same alternative.

This marks the first time the Taliban have imposed a complete, province-wide overnight internet shutdown in a major population center like Herat. The move echoes the group’s earlier restrictions on communications networks in rural areas before they regained power. Critics warn that such decisions not only restrict Afghanistan’s digital space but also raise serious concerns about citizens’ right to information and basic freedoms.