Afghanistan’s banking system has suffered major disruptions after the Taliban cut Wi-Fi services in several provinces, including Balkh, sources told Afghanistan International.

Banks in Mazar-i-Sharif city the capital of Balkh province faced serious interruptions on Tuesday, prompting Taliban governor Yousuf Wafa to order exemptions for banks, the national ID office and several other institutions. Internet access for banks in the city was restored by midday, according to sources.

The Taliban suspended internet services in five provinces on Monday including Kandahar, Uruzgan, Helmand, Nimroz and Balkh as part of an order issued by the group’s leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada. The shutdown initially included households and government offices.

Days earlier, a delegation from the Taliban Ministry of Economy, joined by officials from the Finance Ministry and the central bank, travelled to Kandahar to warn Akhundzada that the restrictions would cripple institutions that rely on online systems.

Talks between telecom companies and Taliban officials have failed to produce a solution. At a meeting with private firms, the Taliban-run Ministry of Communications and Information Technology said mobile internet speeds would also be throttled to 2G. Officials stressed the order from Akhundzada was final and would be enforced nationwide.
The ministry said organisations seeking Wi-Fi access must file a formal request, which would be reviewed by the Taliban’s intelligence agency before a permit is issued.

NetBlocks, an internet watchdog, confirmed disruptions across Afghanistan. Wi-Fi services had been widely used in homes, offices and businesses before the shutdown.

The restrictions come as Taliban officials continue to court foreign investors, claiming the country is more open for business than at any time in recent history. Critics say cutting internet access undermines those claims and threatens Afghanistan’s fragile economy.

During two decades of international engagement, Afghanistan saw rapid growth in telecommunications, with several major providers offering internet services nationwide.