Afghanistan has been plunged into a nationwide communications blackout after the Taliban shut down all internet and mobile services, citing the need to curb “immorality.” According to watchdog Netblocks, fibre-optic networks were severed in stages, leaving the country with no connectivity. International media, including AFP, reported losing contact with their Kabul offices, while even satellite TV and flights from the capital’s airport were disrupted. The shutdown, which began late in the workday, will be most keenly felt as banking and business operations attempt to resume.
The blackout marks the latest restriction under Taliban rule since their return to power in 2021. Women and girls remain banned from education beyond age 12, human rights studies have been outlawed, and books authored by women were recently purged from universities. Afghan journalist Hamid Haidari described the disconnection as “loneliness enveloping the entire country,” warning that Afghanistan now rivals North Korea for digital isolation. Business leaders also fear severe consequences if the shutdown persists, while Taliban officials vaguely promise “alternative routes” for internet access without offering details.
Source:
Ethirajan, A. (2025, September 29). Afghanistan hit by internet blackout as Taliban cuts fibre optic cables. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxqdy5nrlqo