Nighttime Suspension of Telecom Services Sparks Worries

Some residents of the Payeen Kent area of Sar-i-Pul province complain of nighttime suspension of telecom services.
Abdul Raziq, a leader of Imam Jaffar village, said the suspension of telecom services at night creating serious problems for residents.
He had no idea why the telecom networks deferred their services at night. However, the community elder urged the government to resolve the issue at the earliest possible.
Many inhabitants, speaking on the condition of anonymity, accused the Taliban of forcing telecom companies into switching off their antennas at night.
They grumbled the Taliban-imposed restriction on the telecom firms had resulted in serious trouble for the residents, particularly for the sick, who needed urgent care.
Salahuddin Charik, a public representative, confirmed the Taliban ban on the telecom companies. The rebels have allegedly warned the firms which do not keep their antennas switched-off from 6pm to 6am.
On the other hand, provincial police chief Asadullah Habibi believed the issue could be linked to technical problems.
The militants could not act against workers of the firms as security check-posts existed in the area, he argued.
Bismillah Khurram, a member on the Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Board, verified the nighttime suspension was forced by insurgents in insecure areas.
He promised the companies would operate round the clock if the security threats were countered.