Taliban Declares Complete Internet Shutdown in Afghanistan

The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have announced a total suspension of telecommunications services across the country. According to the internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks, following the disconnection of fibre-optic internet links a few weeks ago, Afghanistan is now facing a complete internet blackout. This report was covered by BBC News.

The BBC has confirmed that its Kabul office has lost all contact. Both mobile internet and satellite television broadcasts are reportedly severely disrupted.

No official explanation has yet been provided by the Taliban administration for this complete internet shutdown. However, citing an unnamed official, reports indicate that telecommunications services will remain suspended “until further notice.”

The shutdown, which occurred at 5:00 PM local time with the fibre-optic service halted, is expected to heavily disrupt banking and commercial activities. Business operations, which had been functioning earlier in the day, may face significant setbacks.

At Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, at least eight flights have been cancelled due to the telecommunications disruption, affecting both domestic and international travel.

NetBlocks reported that the Taliban has progressively disconnected network connections as part of its enforcement of morality-related measures. This phased disconnection has also affected telephone services. Over the past few weeks, reports from various regions of the country indicated slowed internet speeds or complete loss of connectivity.

This ongoing blackout has sparked concerns regarding freedom of communication, commerce, and access to information across Afghanistan, highlighting the growing digital isolation under the current regime.