KABUL – The Taliban on Thursday afternoon cut off fiber-optic internet in the western province of Herat on the orders of Noor Ahmad Islamjar, the group’s appointed governor, local sources confirmed.
Banks, money exchanges, government offices, businesses, and many homes in Herat depended on fiber internet. According to residents, the shutdown leaves them without access to critical services and will severely disrupt commercial and financial operations.
The move comes amid a broader Internet restriction across Afghanistan.
The Taliban began restricting fiber-optic internet in Balkh province after orders from their supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to “prevent immorality.” In the days following, the ban spread to several other provinces including Baghlan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Nangarhar, and Takhar.
Mobile data services remain operational in most areas.
Human rights, education, and media groups have criticized the restrictions. They warn that cutting fiber-optic access limits not just entertainment, but vital services: online education, especially for girls, news dissemination, business communications, and remote work.
In Herat, residents also report a dramatic drop in Internet speed even prior to the full shutdown. Many households say they are already struggling with slow responses or broken connectivity, making work and schooling difficult.
No official statement has publicly explained why Herat was added to the shutdown list or how long the cut will last.
Taliban spokespeople in other affected provinces have framed the restrictions as necessary to maintain “moral order” per their rigid and fundamentalist interpretations.
The shutdown has sparked concern among business owners, educators, and civil society in Afghanistan. Many worry that further restrictions will deepen isolation, hamper the economy, and deny basic rights like education and free access to information.
