Internet services from all telecommunications companies in Herat were shut down for a third consecutive night, local sources told Amu on Thursday.
Residents said the blackout began around 9 p.m. Wednesday and continued until Thursday morning. On the two previous nights, internet access was blocked from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Herat is already one of 16 provinces where the Taliban have cut fiber-optic connections over the past week. The nightly shutdowns now extend to all other providers, leaving residents with no access to mobile data or broadband during overnight hours.
Earlier this week, sources said the Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Department ordered providers to suspend services each night. A manager at one telecom company, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the directive was conveyed in a meeting between Taliban officials and company representatives.
The outages have fueled growing frustration among residents, business owners and activists. Critics warn the restrictions will further isolate Afghans, disrupt economic activity and block girls and women who rely on online education after being banned from schools and universities.
The Taliban have not publicly commented on the nightly cutoffs.
