Taliban Leader’s Fear of Internet: Why Haibatullah Akhundzada is Cutting Off Wireless Internet in Afghanistan

The Taliban have recently cut off wireless internet services in Balkh, Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, and Uruzgan provinces, with plans to gradually extend this shutdown across Afghanistan. This decision reflects Haibatullah Akhundzada’s deep-seated fear of the internet and the free flow of information.

Historically, the Taliban have sought to monopolize the narrative within Afghanistan, ensuring that only their version of events is heard. However, the internet has been a crucial tool in breaking this monopoly over the past four years. Citizen journalism, short videos, and independent reports from daily life under Taliban rule have challenged the group’s propaganda machine. Haibatullah understands that any image or sentence published without his approval can undermine the Taliban’s legitimacy.

The Arab Spring, which began in 2010, demonstrated how the internet could facilitate collective truth-seeking and organize protests. Studies by organizations like Freedom House have confirmed that declining internet freedom is often linked to increased political control. For the Taliban, whose legitimacy is based on a specific interpretation of religion, this threat is even more significant. The internet allows Afghans to access diverse religious knowledge, alternative narratives, and direct testimonies of human rights abuses, eroding the ideological pillars of the Taliban.

Haibatullah’s fear of the internet also has a security dimension. He knows that for a leader whose authority is built on silence and fear, the internet is a dangerous tool. Even small local protests can escalate into national crises through social media. Examples from Iran, Egypt, and Sudan show how internet connectivity has amplified dissent, leading to widespread movements and, in some cases, the overthrow of governments.

Additionally, the Taliban leader views the internet as a source of “corruption.” Access to music, films, and modern discourses on individual freedom and women’s rights threatens the ideological foundations of the Taliban’s regime. Traditional religious authorities also face a challenge, as users can access diverse religious sources from across the Islamic world, undermining the monopoly of Taliban-approved religious interpretations.

Afghan users have repeatedly challenged Haibatullah’s orders online, producing thousands of posts and comments that question his legitimacy. This digital dissent has become a tool that erodes the Taliban’s authority from within.

The Taliban’s decision to cut off internet services in stages mirrors their approach to shutting down visual media. By gradually restricting access, they aim to gauge public reaction and reduce political costs. However, this strategy also highlights the paradox of censorship: the more information is suppressed, the greater the demand for access.

In the end, Haibatullah’s fear of the internet is a fear of an informed and organized society. The Taliban’s attempts to impose silence and darkness only deepen the divide between the rulers and a generation that has grown up in the digital age.