JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) – A sweeping crackdown by the Taliban to “prevent immorality” is extending across Afghanistan, resulting in increasing limitations on fiber-optic internet access. This move follows a complete ban on the technology imposed by the country’s leader, marking the first of its kind since the Taliban regained power in August 2021.

The ban has significantly impacted government offices, the private sector, public institutions, and households, stripping away reliable Wi-Fi internet access. Despite this setback, mobile internet services remain operational. Official sources have indicated that alternatives are being explored to address crucial connectivity needs.

On Tuesday, the northern Balkh province reported a Wi-Fi shutdown, a situation echoed by reports of significant internet disruptions in various regions across the country. By Thursday, officials from the eastern and northern provinces indicated that internet access had been severed in Baghlan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Nangarhar, and Takhar.

Siddiqullah Quraishi, an official from the Nangarhar Culture Directorate, confirmed the network shutdown to The Associated Press. Additionally, the governor’s office in Kunduz communicated the internet restrictions in an official WhatsApp group, highlighting the coordinated nature of this ban.

The Afghanistan Media Support Organization has publicly condemned the internet ban, expressing deep concern over its implications. The organization stated, “This action, carried out on the orders of the Taliban’s leader, not only disrupts millions of citizens’ access to free information and essential services but also poses a grave threat to freedom of expression and the work of the media.”

Previously, in the prior year, Enayatullah Alokozai, a spokesman for the Communications Ministry, reported that Afghanistan boasted a fiber-optic network exceeding 1,800 kilometers (approximately 1,125 miles), with plans to extend an additional 488 kilometers (about 305 miles). Until the recent crackdown, most Afghan provinces enjoyed fiber-optic services.

This move by the Taliban is a noteworthy escalation in their efforts to control information and limit access to modern communication technologies, raising alarms over the potential consequences for media freedom and public discourse throughout Afghanistan.