Taliban Denies Nationwide Internet Ban Amid Afghanistan Broadband Outage Affecting 40 Million

The Taliban government has denied imposing a nationwide internet ban in Afghanistan, attributing the widespread connectivity issues to deteriorating fiber optic cables that are currently being replaced. Despite these denials, the internet blackout has severely disrupted communication, banking, commerce, aviation, and humanitarian efforts, affecting millions of people both inside and outside the country. The situation has led to canceled flights at Kabul International Airport and has caused distress among Afghans abroad who cannot contact their families. International organizations, including the United Nations, have urged the Taliban to restore internet and telecommunications access promptly, warning that the blackout threatens economic stability and deepens humanitarian crises. While the Taliban dismiss rumors of an intentional ban, the lack of a clear timeline for service restoration continues to exacerbate isolation and economic disruption. Various provinces had previously reported internet shutdowns following a Taliban decree aimed at controlling immorality, adding complexity to the current communication crisis.