The Taliban government has denied claims of imposing a nationwide internet ban in Afghanistan, stating that ongoing disruptions are caused by outdated fiber optic cables currently being replaced.

This was the Taliban’s first official statement regarding the recent internet blackout, which has disrupted banking, trade, communication, and aviation across several provinces.

Taliban Clarifies Internet Disruption

In a short statement shared with Pakistani journalists on WhatsApp and later posted on X (formerly Twitter), Taliban officials said:

“There is nothing like the rumors being spread that we have imposed a ban on the internet.”

The statement, attributed to Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, explained that the outages were due to “decaying fiber optic infrastructure” that is currently under repair. However, it did not clarify when full services will be restored.

Reports of Internet Blackout in Provinces

Last month, multiple Afghan provinces reported an internet shutdown, citing a decree by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who allegedly ordered restrictions to combat immorality online.

The disruptions were first tracked by NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring group, which reported a collapse of internet connectivity across Afghanistan, including in Kabul. Telephone networks were also affected.

Human Impact of the Internet Outage

For many Afghans abroad, the blackout has created deep distress.

Maruf Nabizada, who fled Afghanistan in 2022 and now lives in the Netherlands, said he and his wife have been unable to contact family in Herat province for days.

“When you cannot hear from your loved ones, you worry if they are safe. Just last night my wife cried because she couldn’t talk to her mother and sister,” Nabizada told AP.

He expressed fear that the disruption could last weeks or even months, cutting off one of the only lifelines for families separated by borders.

Aviation and Humanitarian Operations Affected

The internet blackout also affected aviation. Afghan airline Kam Air suspended flights to Kabul earlier this week but announced it would resume operations later on Wednesday once partial connectivity returned.

Humanitarian groups have warned that the outage is severely affecting their ability to operate.

Save the Children issued a statement urging the Taliban to restore services:

“Reliable communications are essential for delivering life-saving assistance and coordinating with partners. The blackout puts vulnerable communities at risk.”

Key Highlights

• Taliban denies nationwide internet ban, blames fiber optic cable issues.

• NetBlocks confirms major connectivity collapse across Afghanistan.

• Families abroad struggle to contact loved ones due to blackout.

• Kam Air flights suspended temporarily, now resuming.

• Aid groups warn blackout threatens humanitarian operations