In a significant move, internet and phone networks across Afghanistan were completely shut down, leaving millions of citizens without access to communication and information.
The Khaama Press News Agency reports that the nationwide blackout has disrupted daily life, with severe consequences for education, access to services, and the country’s connection to the outside world.
According to Agence France-Presse, journalists in Kabul reported losing access to the internet, while mobile phone services were also severely impacted, amplifying the communication breakdown.
The cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks confirmed on September 29 that the blackout was a “deliberate action” by the Taliban, intended as part of so-called “moral measures”. The move has raised alarms about the country's increasing isolation under the Taliban's rule.
Afghan citizens have expressed serious concern over the shutdown, describing it as a blow to daily life. The complete loss of internet and mobile phone access has curtailed people’s ability to obtain vital information, attend online education, and access essential services such as banking and healthcare.
Earlier, Afghan residents condemned the shutdown of fiber-optic internet, calling it part of efforts to silence the country and render it “voiceless, invisible, and backward.” They are urging the international community not to remain silent, warning that continued restrictions would only deepen Afghanistan’s isolation and further disconnect millions of people from the global community.
With communication lines severed, Afghanistan faces one of its most severe blackouts yet, sparking widespread concern among citizens, human rights advocates, and the international community. The country now finds itself in a communications void, where access to the outside world is increasingly limited.
