The security atmosphere in Kandahar appeared tense during the 48 hours of a nationwide shutdown of internet and telecommunications services by the Taliban, sources told Amu.
Residents reported an unusual increase in checkpoints across the city, with new armed personnel stationed in parts of the provincial capital. Sources said Taliban intelligence officers in civilian clothes were patrolling streets and monitoring activity.
During this period, several people were detained by Taliban intelligence forces, though their identities remain unknown. Taliban units also searched certain homes in Kandahar, and in some cases, stayed inside the properties, the sources said.
“The situation looked like something was about to happen, but no one knew what,” one source told Amu.
The reports come as the Taliban continue to face criticism for cutting off internet access nationwide since Sept. 29. The blackout disrupted banking, commerce and humanitarian work, grounded flights at Kabul International Airport and left families unable to contact loved ones inside and outside the country.
International organizations, including the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, warned that the outage risks worsening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and undermining basic rights, particularly for women and girls who rely on online education.
Sources in Kandahar said a key Taliban meeting was expected to take place in the province, considered the group’s power center, but gave no further details.
Taliban have not commented on the security build-up or on the continued communications blackout.
