A blockade of fiber optic connections by the Taliban has significantly restricted internet access in large parts of Afghanistan. According to the Afghan news portal Tolo News, 10 of 34 provinces are affected, and the economy is also suffering as a result of the blockade. In a move underscoring escalating controls on digital access, Afghanistan encountered a severe internet blackout on Monday, triggered by a Taliban-enforced ban on fiber-optic services aimed at curbing perceived immorality. This disruption, among the most severe since the group's 2021 takeover, has. Afghanistan, a landlocked nation with a turbulent history of conflict and instability, has long been isolated from global technological advances. Criticism has also come from the business community.