Kabul – Afghanistan faced an unprecedented internet blackout on Monday, as reports suggest the Taliban may be enforcing a nationwide cut to fiber-optic services under their latest crackdown on so-called “immorality.”
Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, this marks the first time the country has experienced a shutdown of this magnitude. Earlier this month, several provinces saw fiber-optic connections disrupted after Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a decree to restrict internet access in the name of moral enforcement.
According to the internet-access monitoring group Netblocks, connectivity in Afghanistan had plummeted to just 14 percent of normal levels. The near-total disruption has effectively isolated millions of Afghans from the outside world. “The incident is likely to severely limit the public’s ability to contact the outside world,” Netblocks said.
The blackout has impacted major media outlets. The Associated Press reported being unable to reach its Kabul bureau, as well as journalists in the eastern and southern provinces of Nangarhar and Helmand. The Taliban government, which heavily relies on social media and messaging apps for communication, has yet to officially comment on the shutdown.
Private broadcaster TOLO News cited sources confirming that fiber-optic internet could be cut across the country starting Monday, leaving Afghans largely offline in their daily lives.
For the people of Afghanistan, this blackout is more than just an inconvenience. It represents a growing sense of isolation, uncertainty, and fear, as daily communication, access to information, and connection with the world outside the country become increasingly restricted.
