The Taliban have cut off all telecommunications and internet services across Afghanistan, effectively isolating the country from the rest of the world.
The radical Islamic group blocked fiber-optic internet access nationwide on September 29, while mobile networks, which rely on the same infrastructure, were also almost entirely shut down.
The move has caused widespread disruption, affecting flights, banking systems, e-commerce, remote work, and online education. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks described Afghanistan as being in the midst of a total internet blackout.
The Taliban have not provided an official reason for the shutdown. However, the decision follows weeks of localized internet restrictions and is said by the group to be aimed at preventing “immorality,” including concerns over pornography and online interactions between men and women. Critics argue it is part of a broader crackdown on individual freedoms and free flow of information.
Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have severely restricted the rights of Afghans, particularly women, and violently suppressed dissent. Experts note that the internet ban has no religious justification under Islamic law.
The shutdown has impacted ordinary citizens, private businesses, and government offices. According to Flightradar24, at least eight flights to and from Kabul International Airport on September 29 were canceled.
Afghan analyst Ishaq Atmar stated that the communication blackout would have major consequences for both the population and the economy, describing the internet as essential for modern life.
For many Afghan women, internet access has been a critical lifeline since the Taliban prohibited them from working and studying in 2022. The shutdown is expected to exacerbate Afghanistan’s economic crisis, where poverty, hunger, and unemployment remain widespread.
Media advocacy groups have condemned the move, calling it an attempt to suppress the free flow of information. Afghan journalist Haroon Basir, based in France, said he has been unable to contact his family in Afghanistan since September 29, highlighting the personal toll on Afghan families both inside and outside the country.
