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The Taliban has denied accusations that it deliberately imposed a nationwide internet ban in Afghanistan.

Getting into it: In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected reports of a nationwide internet ban, insisting that rumors were being spread and that the outages were caused by aging fiber-optic cables that needed replacement.

Despite his claims, independent monitoring groups reported that Afghanistan had suffered a near-total collapse of digital communications. NetBlocks confirmed that connectivity dropped to around 1% of normal levels after a phased shutdown of both internet and telephone services. The United Nations warned that the blackout had “left Afghanistan almost completely cut off from the outside world,” undermining humanitarian operations, halting banking services, and further isolating citizens already enduring economic hardship and the aftermath of natural disasters.

Earlier statements from Taliban officials in the provinces appeared to contradict Mujahid’s denial. In September, Balkh’s provincial spokesperson announced a complete fiber-optic ban “to prevent vice,” and similar restrictions were reported in Helmand, Kandahar, and Nangarhar.

This comes as there’s talk that supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada personally ordered the nationwide blackout to curb “immorality” online, continuing a pattern of clampdowns on freedoms since the Taliban’s return to power.