The Taliban’s leader has ordered public offices across the country to stop using internet services provided by the state-owned Afghan Telecom, local sources told Amu TV.
According to the sources, the directive means civil servants will no longer have access to the company’s internet in their workplaces.
The order has already been implemented in several northern provinces, where Afghan Telecom internet services for government departments were halted at least five days ago, the sources said. They added that the restriction has slowed down government work and forced some departments to suspend parts of their operations.
The move has triggered frustration and concern among government employees, the sources said.
The Taliban and the Ministry of Telecommunications under their administration have not commented publicly on the reported order.
Afghan Telecom, also known as AFTEL, is a state-owned company that provides fixed-line, wireless and internet services under a 25-year license in Afghanistan. The company was converted into a semi state-owned enterprise in 2005 under the former Afghan government but remains fully government-run.