The Taliban rejects reports of nationwide internet ban in Afghanistan

"The Taliban has denied implementing a nationwide internet ban, following a communications blackout across Afghanistan this week. In a statement made to Pakistani journalists on a chat group on Wednesday, Taliban officials claimed the outages have been caused by old fibre-optic cables that needed replacing. list of 3 itemsend of list There is nothing like the rumours being spread that we have imposed a ban on the internet, they said in a three-line statement."

"Netblocks, a global internet watchdog, said at the time that there was a total internet blackout in the nation of 43 million people. Despite the Taliban claiming no hand in the internet closure, the group has previously cut internet services in some areas of the country as part of leader Haibatullah Akhunzada's decree to combat purported immorality. On September 16, the Balkh provincial spokesperson confirmed that fibre-optic internet had been completely banned in the northern province to prevent vice."

"An Afghan government official told the AFP news agency on Monday that eight to nine thousand telecommunications pillars from the fibre-optic network would be shut down until further notice. Meanwhile, online TV channel TOLOnews said earlier this week that the Taliban had set a one-week deadline for the shutdown of 3G and 4G internet services for all mobile phones. As well as severing personal communications, the blackout has affected sectors including aviation, banking and commerce."

Taliban officials denied imposing a nationwide internet ban after a communications blackout affected Afghanistan this week. Officials told Pakistani journalists on a chat group that outages were caused by old fibre-optic cables needing replacement. Netblocks reported a total internet blackout across the country of 43 million people. The Taliban has previously ordered local internet shutdowns to combat purported immorality, with Balkh province banning fibre-optic internet on September 16. Restrictions were earlier reported in Badakhshan, Takhar, Helmand, Kandahar and Nangarhar. An Afghan official said 8,000–9,000 telecommunications pillars would be shut down until further notice. The blackout disrupted aviation, banking and commerce.

Read at www.aljazeera.com