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In a new attempt to strengthen social control, Taliban authorities banned the use of fiber optic internet in Balkh province, northern Afghanistan, under the guise of "preventing immorality." The measure has affected homes, businesses, and government offices, which relied on this technology for their daily operations.

The decision entails a partial digital blackout, as home and business Wi-Fi service was disabled. While mobile internet is still available, users report that it is slow, unstable, and has high rates, severely limiting communication, access to information, and the ability to conduct online economic activities.

The restriction has a severe impact on students, workers, and entrepreneurs, who find their tools for distance learning, coordinating business, or maintaining contact with family members in other regions and abroad limited.

At the same time, local public offices have also been affected, potentially complicating administrative procedures and government coordination.

Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have implemented increasingly strict measures on public life, especially regarding access to media, entertainment, and women's education. The fiber optic ban in Balkh is part of this pattern of control, where information surveillance plays a central role.

Although the measure has not yet been extended to the entire country, international organizations warn that it could be replicated in other provinces, accentuating Afghanistan's digital isolation. Experts point out that these decisions limit not only freedom of expression and access to information, but also the possibility of economic development in a nation already facing a severe humanitarian crisis.