Afghanistan is experiencing a near-total communications blackout for a second day after Taliban authorities cut internet and mobile phone services nationwide. The shutdown, ordered by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, began with gradual restrictions earlier this month and escalated on Monday night when connectivity dropped to less than 1% of normal levels, according to internet watchdog NetBlocks.
The Taliban government has offered no official explanation for the blackout, though recent weeks have seen concerns about online pornography. Rights groups, however, argue the regime is attempting to disconnect Afghans from the world to suppress the population. “We are blind without phones and internet,” said Najibullah, a 42-year-old shopkeeper in Kabul. “All our business relies on mobiles. The market is totally frozen.”
Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch focusing on Afghanistan, said cutting off internet access deprives millions of their livelihoods and fundamental rights to education, healthcare, and information. “The Taliban should drop its excuses about morality and instead focus on how these shutdowns are causing irreversible harm,” she said. The UN mission to Afghanistan, Unama, warned the disconnection risks threatening economic stability and exacerbating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Before the blackout, a government official told Agence France-Presse that the fibre-optic network would be cut, affecting mobile services. “Eight to nine thousand telecommunications pillars will be shut down,” he said, adding the blackout would last “until further notice.” The official noted that the banking sector, customs, and all systems across the country would be affected. A UN source said operations have fallen back to radio communications and limited satellite links.
The Taliban leader reportedly ignored warnings from officials about the economic fallout and ordered the nationwide ban. On 16 September, Balkh provincial spokesperson Attaullah Zaid said the measure was taken “to prevent vice.” Similar restrictions were previously applied in several provinces. NetBlocks said the blackout appeared consistent with an intentional disconnection of service.
