Taliban continue telecom services shutdown in Baghlan

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Local people say Taliban militants forced telecom companies to suspend their services over night in northern Baghlan province.

A tribal elder from Baghlan, Sayed Kamal Wardak told Pajhwok Afghan News that telecom services were suspended during the night since the last four years.

“Taliban have allowed telecom companies to keep their services 24 hours a day only during three days of Eid holidays, but the services are suspended after end of the holidays overnight,” he said.

He said people were very happy for the telecom services during Eid holidays and they ask the Taliban to allow telecom companies to provide their services day and night.

Another tribal elder who wished to go unnamed, also said that telecom services were working around-the-clock during Eid holidays and he was in contact with his friends.

“Most incidents happen overnight, if the Taliban let telecom companies to provide their services all the times it would be very good for people,” he said.

A number of other residents of Baghlan held similar views.

An official of a private telecom company who wished to go unnamed, said, “The Taliban allowed us to keep our services around-the-clock for only three days of Eid holidays, this time ended last night and we shutdown our services during night in Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar provinces,”

He said they suffered millions of Afghanis in loss due to their services shutdown but they had no way and have to obey the Taliban’s orders or they would face problems.

Baghlan telecommunication and IT director, Faiz Mohammad Arghand, said that all private telecom companies should keep their services alive around-the-clock based on their licenses.

“The government does not suffer any damage, only the companies and civilians pay the price for telecom services shutdown,” he said.

Taliban say they suspend telecom services in some areas for security reasons.

mds