Internet blackout in Afghanistan enters third day, deepening crisis

Kabul: A nationwide internet shutdown in Afghanistan has entered its third consecutive day, crippling communication, halting banking services, grounding flights, and obstructing critical humanitarian aid efforts across the country.

Since Monday evening, millions of Afghans have found themselves cut off from both local and international connectivity, with the blackout affecting mobile and fiber-optic networks nationwide, according to internet monitoring groups including NetBlocks and Proton VPN.

The Taliban government, which has ruled Afghanistan since 2021, reportedly ordered the shutdown to curb what it describes as “immoral behavior.” The internet blackout began with fiber optic cuts in northern provinces before expanding to Kabul and the rest of the country by September 29. Officials have indicated the blackout will remain in place “until further notice.”

The blackout’s impact is multifaceted and profound. Banking operations have stalled without internet access, while commercial flights have been grounded, further isolating the population. UN agencies, some of the few remaining international organizations operating in Afghanistan, have stated that aid distribution has become nearly impossible due to the loss of connectivity.

Women and girls are among the hardest hit by the blackout, with digital platforms providing one of the few remaining spaces for education, employment, and access to vital information and services now inaccessible. Women-led community initiatives and support services have been severely disrupted, exacerbating existing gender inequalities.

Journalists inside Afghanistan have reported being unable to make local or international calls, hampering efforts to document and report on the crisis. The blackout has rendered direct communication nearly impossible, leaving many voices unheard on the global stage.

Humanitarian coordinators warn that the blackout compounds an already dire humanitarian situation. Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, described the shutdown as “another crisis on top of existing crises,” warning of significant negative impacts on the lives of ordinary Afghans.

International human rights organizations have condemned the blackout, emphasizing that internet access is crucial for freedom of expression, education, health services, and economic participation. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Human Rights Council have urged governments to avoid imposing internet shutdowns due to their severe social and economic consequences.

Despite repeated requests, the Taliban government has not issued an official comment on the blackout. A diplomatic source, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the internet shutdown was ordered by Taliban supreme leader Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada as part of efforts to prevent the spread of “vice.”

As the blackout drags on, the Afghan population faces increasing isolation and uncertainty, with little indication of when connectivity might be restored.