Taliban Leader: Restoring Internet Equals to “Funeral of Islamic Emirate”

DID Press: Hibatullah Akhundzada, leader of the Taliban government, described the restoration of internet services in Afghanistan as equivalent to a “funeral for the Islamic system,” warning against Kabul moving closer to Western values, following the reversal of his earlier order to cut the country’s fiber-optic internet.

According to Afghanistan journalist Sami Yusufzai, writing on X (formerly Twitter), Akhundzada became furious after learning that the directive to disable the fiber-optic network had been canceled.

In a meeting held on October 5 in Kandahar with close advisors, including Mullah Zafarani and Mufti Abdulhakim, he reportedly called the decision “astonishing and deeply upsetting,” saying, “Restoring the fiber-optic network is like holding a funeral for our Sharia-based Islamic system.”

The Taliban leader also questioned, “Is there any difference left between the Western republic and the Islamic Emirate?”

These remarks come amid reports that several ministers and senior Taliban officials in Kabul, who played a role in reversing the fiber-optic shutdown, are now cautiously exploring ways to override other controversial directives from Akhundzada, including the nationwide ban on girls’ education.

Observers suggest that these disagreements could indicate deep divisions between Taliban leadership in Kandahar and Kabul, potentially influencing future policymaking.

Afghanistan experienced a 48-hour internet and telecommunications blackout last week, generating conflicting narratives: Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Sky News that no official directive had been received from the Ministry of Communications and they could not comment, while one internet service provider confirmed that the shutdown had indeed been ordered by the Taliban government.