Shock Directive from Kandahar: Afghanistan Faces Total Internet Blackout

DID Press: Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada has reportedly ordered a nationwide shutdown of fiber-optic internet in Afghanistan, a move observers warn could paralyze key sectors of the economy, banking, and public services. The decision, taken during a closed meeting in Kandahar on September 16, has drawn opposition from some Taliban officials, according to credible sources.

Under the directive, only limited access via mobile networks would remain operational, while all fiber-optic connections would be cut entirely. Sources said a delegation from Kabul traveled to Kandahar to argue that fiber is essential for government operations, financial transactions, and essential services, but Akhundzada and Balkh governor Mohammad Yusuf Wafa insisted the order must be enforced without exception.

Reports also indicate that the Taliban caretaker government intends to sharply reduce the speed and quality of remaining internet services and impose new restrictions on websites and applications. So far, fiber connections have been fully shut down in 14 provinces — including Balkh, Kandahar, Herat, Nangarhar, Helmand, Kunduz, Takhar, and Badakhshan — with severe slowdowns reported elsewhere.

The decision has triggered widespread criticism from civil society groups, rights organizations, and the media. The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) condemned the move, calling it “a serious threat to freedom of expression and independent journalism.”

Analysts say the Taliban have increasingly weaponized control over communications infrastructure since seizing power in August 2021. Shutting down fiber-optic internet — the backbone of Afghanistan’s digital connectivity — not only restricts citizens’ access to free information but also risks crippling education, commerce, media, and essential public services nationwide.