The Taliban shut down Wi-Fi services in Herat for a second consecutive night, residents and service providers said Wednesday, deepening concerns over growing restrictions on internet access across Afghanistan.
Residents told Afghanistan International that fixed internet services were cut at around 10 p.m. Tuesday. A source at a Herat-based internet company said the Taliban issued the order without explanation and warned providers of penalties if they failed to comply.
One resident said the state-run Salam network’s Wi-Fi remained active. The Taliban have not commented on the blackout.
On Monday night, internet services were also suspended in Herat for 12 hours before being restored in the morning. The reason for the night-time cuts remains unclear.
The shutdown follows Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s directive to cut fibre-optic internet, first enforced in Balkh province and later extended to more than a dozen provinces. Unlike other areas, Herat residents still have access to slow DSL connections, though fibre services were cut on 27 September.
The disruptions have sparked widespread criticism, with residents warning that daily life and business have been severely affected.
