Taliban denies shutting down the internet across Afghanistan.

Afghanistan – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – A major internet and phone blackout is happening across Afghanistan. The disruption started when the country’s leaders began cutting fiber-optic cables. They state this action is meant to stop activities they consider immoral. A watchdog group confirms the national internet is almost completely down.

This severe drop in connectivity points to a deliberate shutdown of services. The crackdown on internet access started earlier this month. Since then, people have experienced very slow or constantly interrupted connections. This blackout is especially hard for girls who rely on the internet for education and hope.

Because phone services often use the same internet lines, they are failing too. Experts note that completely cutting the fiber cables shuts down both internet and phones. The leaders may find it difficult to block the internet while keeping phone service running.

One provincial official announced a full ban on fiber-optic internet on the leader’s orders. He said the goal was to prevent vice and that other options for connectivity would be explored. Similar internet restrictions are now in place in multiple provinces across the country.

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This is a sharp turn from earlier this year when the government praised its extensive fiber-optic network. They had seen it as a vital project to connect Afghanistan to the world and help fight poverty. Since returning to power, the Taliban has put many strict rules in place based on their interpretation of Islamic law.