Taliban leader orders fiber‑optic internet ban in Balkh province

The Taliban leader has ordered a ban on fibre‑optic (Wi‑Fi) internet in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province, a provincial government spokesman said, cutting cable connections for government offices, businesses, public institutions and homes while leaving mobile internet services intact.

Haji Attaullah Zaid, a spokesman for the provincial administration, told The Associated Press that the directive came from Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and was intended "to prevent immorality." Zaid said an "alternative will be built within the country for necessities," but provided no timetable, technical details or explanation for why Balkh was singled out for the restriction.

The ban, the first of its kind since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, was reported Tuesday and has prompted immediate disruption for households and firms that rely on stable, high‑speed internet. Residents interviewed by The Associated Press said some households noticed connectivity issues several days earlier and that service providers initially described the problem as a technical fault.

One resident of Mazar‑e‑Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of Taliban reprisals and said his household of six, including a student, depended on Wi‑Fi for education and work. He said mobile internet was "slow and expensive" and that the ban threatened his ability to do business with contacts abroad. "If this ban continues, it will not only be detrimental to my business but also to others," he said, adding that he might relocate to another province to avoid losses.

Provincial authorities have not said how long the ban will last or whether similar measures might be extended to other provinces. Mobile networks in Afghanistan have been temporarily suspended in the past for security reasons, often around religious festivals, to prevent the detonation of explosive devices; officials did not cite such concerns in announcing the Balkh restriction.

Telecommunications in Afghanistan have been a point of contention since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, with the new rulers imposing restrictions on media and communications that they say are needed to maintain public order and social norms. International firms and humanitarian agencies have warned that limits on connectivity can impede access to information, education and basic services.

The order affects a range of users, including government offices, private companies that facilitate trade with overseas partners, students and households that use Wi‑Fi for learning and telework. Service providers and local officials did not immediately respond to requests for details about technical adjustments, enforcement mechanisms or compensation for businesses and institutions affected by the ban.

The Associated Press contributed reporting from Jalalabad and from a local correspondent in Balkh. Questions about the scope, duration and enforcement of the ban remain unanswered as officials have offered only brief public statements. Observers will be watching for any further orders from Kabul that could broaden restrictions on internet access elsewhere in the country.