Hebatullah Retreats: Internet and Telecommunications Networks Activated in Afghanistan

Kokcha News Agency: The Taliban cut off fiber optic internet and telecommunications networks across the country on Monday, under the order of their leader, Hebatullah Akhundzada.

Following this action, the activities of banks, customs offices, and Sarai Shahzada (money exchange market) were halted, and flights were canceled. The nationwide shutdown of internet and communication networks was met with widespread public anger.

Citizens in various provinces of Afghanistan have expressed their happiness to Afghanistan International about the reactivation of internet and telecommunications networks in the country.

A resident of Bamyan province said that with the reconnection of the internet, they feel hopeful and wish for these services to remain stable throughout Afghanistan and not be cut off again.

A citizen from Herat province also said that the internet outage had negative and profound effects on their life, eliminating their access to educational and work resources.

A woman from Kabul stated that in the past three days, due to the internet outage, she was unable to get her patients to the doctor on time. She added that the situation in Afghanistan is getting worse every day, and people are fed up with the Taliban government.

She said, “If we protest against the Taliban, they arrest us. People’s problems must be solved as soon as possible. Convey our voice to the world. The world must hear our voice.”

Another resident of Takhar province said, “In the days when the internet was cut off, I felt like I was in a dark pit with no way out.”

So far, Taliban officials have not provided any explanation regarding the internet outage. On [day of the week removed as it is after today’s date], a Taliban official told Afghanistan International that the internet was activated by order of the group’s Prime Minister.

He added that communication networks in the country were cut off by order of Hebatullah Akhundzada.