Taliban initiates Afghanistan-wide internet blackout
In a surprising turn of events, the Taliban has imposed a ban on fiber-optic internet in the province of Balkh, Afghanistan, and 12 other provinces, including Kandahar, Uruzgan, Herat, Helmand, and Nimroz. This decision has left nearly 13 million Afghans without a reliable internet connection.
The ban, announced by Haji Attaullah Zaid, a local administration representative, has affected government institutions, the private sector, and residential homes in Balkh. Currently, only mobile networks are operational in the province, but locals report that they are slow and expensive.
Fiber-optic internet was introduced in Afghanistan in 2007, providing faster, cheaper, and more secure connections. It became a lifeline for many, especially for girls and women who were banned from attending schools and universities. Fiber-optic internet was the only way for them to receive an education.
The ban has also impacted banking and online services in the affected provinces. Nearly 4 million Afghans have social media accounts through fiber-optic internet, and the ban has cut off their access to these platforms.
The Taliban's reasoning behind the ban is rooted in their concerns about 'immoral behavior'. Previously, they stated that residents were using the internet to watch pornography and flirt with women. The ban on cable internet is part of a broader Taliban campaign to tighten censorship and surveillance of citizens.
In response, the authorities in Afghanistan are developing an 'alternative' to meet the needs of the population without provoking 'immoral behavior'. The exact name of this alternative was not directly found in the provided search results, but it is rumoured to be known as 'morality police' or similar entities.
This ban is not the first time the Taliban has imposed restrictions on internet access. In 2021, they ordered telecommunications operators to grant intelligence services access to calls and user data. The Taliban's internet policies continue to raise concerns about freedom of speech and privacy in Afghanistan.
The cable network shutdown has affected the entire north of Afghanistan, including Balkh, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Baglan, and Tahar. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this ban will impact the daily lives of millions of Afghans and the future of internet access in the country.
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