Afghanistan is facing a total internet blackout after an order issued by the Taliban government shut down the country’s fibre-optic internet connections, bringing communications, banking, and media operations to a halt, with both domestic and international news agencies reporting major disruptions.
According to the internet monitoring group NetBlocks, connectivity dropped to just 1% as networks were disconnected in a gradual, stepwise manner. The watchdog noted that the suspension of fibre-optic cables has also affected mobile and fixed-line telephone services, given that most calls in Afghanistan are routed through the same network. Kabul-based broadcasters, including Tolo News, warned audiences that radio and television transmissions could also face interruptions.
Around the time of the shutdown, international media outlets like the AFP and BBC reported losing contact with their offices in Kabul1. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reportedly confirmed that at least eight flights from Kabul International Airport were cancelled due to disruptions, with local media suggesting airport systems had been hit. Business leaders in Afghanistan have expressed concern that banking services, customs operations, and commerce will be seriously affected if the ban continues.
Weeks of declining connectivity in several provinces, where residents have already reported slow or non-existent service, preceded the decision. Officials in Balkh province earlier said that cuts were aimed at preventing “vice,” while promising unspecified alternatives would eventually be made available.
Reactions from inside and outside the country have reflected growing anxiety over the blackout. Former Parliamentarian Mariam Solaimankhil, now based in the United States, posted that the silence of Afghan voices online was “deafening.”
The blackout is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed since the Taliban retook power in 2021. In addition to limits on media and communications, the authorities have banned books authored by women from university syllabi, removed courses on human rights, and shut down midwifery programs. Access to education for women and girls remains suspended beyond the age of 12.
With no official explanation for the duration of the blackout, many in Afghanistan are preparing for further uncertainty. A Taliban official said only that the shutdown would last “until further notice.”
