CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, ADDS NETWORK RESUMPTION
By Aamir Latif and Saadet Gokce
KARACHI, Pakistan / ISTANBUL (AA) - All telecommunication networks returned in Afghanistan after a two-day breakdown of the internet and telecommunications across the nation, local broadcaster Tolo News reported.
One close associate of the Taliban, who usually shares updates from the interim administration, also said on the US social media company X that Afghanistan was back online.
The Netblocks also said that the internet was partially restored in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's interim government had earlier denied reports of a ban on the internet, insisting nationwide disruptions are caused by a "decaying" fiber optic line that is being replaced.
The Taliban government's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that the "old" fiber optic infrastructure in Afghanistan had "completely" decayed and was being replaced.
"There is nothing like that we have banned internet in the country," Mujahid said in a post on X, rejecting such reports as mere "rumors."
Internet and mobile phone networks remained shut down across Afghanistan on Tuesday, after the outage began late Monday.