The Taliban government in Afghanistan has imposed a complete shutdown of telecommunications services across the country, following weeks of disruptions to fibre-optic internet connections aimed at preventing what they consider immoral activities.
According to internet monitoring group Netblocks, Afghanistan is currently experiencing a “total internet blackout.”
Reports from international news agencies indicate that communication with offices in Kabul, the Afghan capital, has been lost, while mobile internet and satellite TV services have also been severely affected.
Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, the group has imposed various restrictions in line with their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
A Taliban official confirmed that the telecom shutdown would remain in effect until further notice. Tolo News, an independent Afghan news channel, advised the public to follow its social media pages for updates, as it expected disruptions to its television and radio services.
Local media also reported that flights from Kabul International Airport have been disrupted. According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, at least eight flights scheduled for Tuesday have been cancelled.
Several Kabul residents said that their fibre-optic internet connection was cut off by the end of the working day around 5:00pm local time (GMT +04:30), reports the BBC. Consequently, many people might not feel the full impact until the Tuesday morning when businesses and banking services are set to resume.
Fibre-optic cables, which are known for their fast data transmission capabilities, are widely used for internet services worldwide. Netblocks reported on Mastodon.social that the Taliban’s efforts to implement “morality measures” led to a total internet blackout, with multiple networks being gradually disconnected. Telephone services have also been affected.
For weeks, internet users in several Afghan provinces have experienced either slow connections or a complete lack of service.
The Taliban had earlier mentioned plans to establish an alternative route for internet access but provided no further details.
Business leaders have warned that the ongoing internet restrictions could severely impact their operations. Hamid Haidari, former editor-in-chief of Afghan news channel 1TV, said after the shutdown that “loneliness enveloped the entire country.” He added on X, “Afghanistan has now officially taken first place in the competition with North Korea for [internet] disconnection.”
This internet blackout is part of a broader set of restrictions imposed by the Taliban since they regained control of Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, they removed books written by women from the university curriculum and imposed a ban on the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment. Women and girls have been particularly affected, with restrictions on education beyond the age of 12. One of the last avenues for further education, midwifery training, was closed quietly in late 2024.
The Taliban’s return to power occurred in 2021 following the rapid withdrawal of US and other international forces.
