Kunduz: Taliban ban telecom services at nighttime

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): The Taliban have forced telecom companies into suspending their services at nighttime in northern Kunduz province, local officials said on Wednesday.

The Taliban also confirmed the ban on telecom services at night. A security official in the province, wishing anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Taliban issued the order telecommunication companies two days back.

He said telecom networks did not work from 6pm in the evening till 6am in the morning, creating serious problems for local residents. “The Taliban did this because of nighttime security operations.”

Kunduz residents confirmed the issue. Shirin Agha, a resident of Kunduz city, the provincial capital: “My mobile SIM card automatically deactivates in night, and then I am unable to contact anyone. This is a big problem.”

However, another resident of the city, Ghulam Sidiq, said except Salaam Network, the rest of telecom networks didn’t work in night. “The government should resolve the issue at the earliest.”

Meanwhile, provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Hamid Hamidi confirmed the issue but he didn’t know if the Taliban had ordered the blackout. However, he said, the issue was under investigation and soon a solution would be found.

A telecom company in-charge in the province, on the condition of anonymity, said: “We suspend our services in night to avoid facing any security issue.”

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the fighters had barred telecom services at night because security personnel used SIM cards in night during operations against militants.

sns/ma

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