Taliban Internet Blackout Causes Telecom Shutdown Across Afghanistan

Afghanistan Faces Total Internet Blackout: Taliban Implements Nationwide Telecommunications Shutdown

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has instituted a nationwide telecommunications shutdown, following weeks of severing fiber-optic internet connections. As reported by internet watchdog Netblocks, the country is currently experiencing a “total internet blackout,” severely affecting communication networks across Afghanistan.

Impact on Communication and Media Outlets

International news agencies have reported significant disruptions, particularly in communications from their offices in Kabul. The Taliban has not provided an official explanation for the telecommunications shutdown, but it is clear that mobile internet and satellite TV services have been impacted extensively.

A Taliban official announced that the shutdown would remain in effect until further notice. Tolo News, a privately owned Afghan news channel, has advised the public to stay updated via its social media channels regarding potential disruptions to its television and radio networks.

Disruption of Flights and Economic Activities

Reports indicate that flights from Kabul Airport have also faced cancellations, with at least eight scheduled flights on Tuesday being scrapped, according to Flight tracking service Flightradar24. Diplomatic sources have warned the BBC that these internet cuts could have far-reaching effects on banking and e-commerce systems across the country.

Residents in Kabul reported that their fiber-optic internet services ceased functioning towards the end of the working day, around 17:00 local time (12:30 GMT), leading many to anticipate the true impact of the blackout on their daily lives starting Tuesday morning, when businesses and banking services would typically resume.

Challenges Faced by Afghan Citizens

Fiber-optic cables are critical for fast data transfer and are essential for much of the world’s internet. Netblocks posted on the social media platform Mastodon.social, stating, “Afghanistan is now in the midst of a total internet blackout as Taliban authorities move to implement morality measures.” Multiple networks experienced disconnections in a stepwise manner, and telephone services are also currently affected.

In recent weeks, internet users in several provinces have voiced concerns over slow or nonexistent internet access. A man working as a money changer in Takhar province shared the repercussions of these internet cuts, stating that his daughters’ online English classes were disrupted. He lamented, “Their last opportunity to study and stay engaged is now gone.”

• A woman expressed her frustration at being unable to attend online classes due to her home internet being cut off.
• She said, “I had hoped to finish my studies and find an online job, but that dream has also been destroyed.”

Social and Educational Impacts of the Internet Blackout

Hamid Haidari, a former editor-in-chief of Afghan news channel 1TV, emphasized the profound sense of isolation that has gripped the nation since the shutdown. He remarked, “Afghanistan has now officially taken first place in the competition with North Korea for [internet] disconnection.” Mariam Solaimankhil, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament now residing in the United States, highlighted the silence online, noting the absence of Afghan voices.

Despite previous claims from the Taliban that an alternative route for internet access would be established, no further details have been provided. This blackout represents the latest in a series of restrictive measures implemented by the Taliban since regaining power in 2021.

Restrictions on Education and Women’s Rights

In addition to the telecommunications shutdown, the Taliban recently removed books authored by women from the university curriculum and outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment. Women and girls have seen their educational opportunities drastically curtailed, particularly following the closure of midwifery courses in late 2024. One university student voiced her despair over the loss of online study options, stating, “When I heard that the internet had been cut, the world felt dark to me.”

The situation in Afghanistan continues to evolve, raising concerns about the implications for education, personal freedoms, and economic stability in a country already grappling with severe challenges since the Taliban’s return to power.