Afghanistan faces nationwide internet blackout under Taliban telecommunications shutdown

  • 30/09/2025

Afghanistan is experiencing a nationwide internet blackout after Taliban authorities ordered a complete telecommunications shutdown, severing the country from global communications networks. International news agencies have confirmed losing contact with their Kabul offices, while flight tracking data shows at least eight departures and arrivals canceled at Kabul International Airport due to the communications disruption.

The Taliban government has not provided an official explanation for the blackout, though one official stated it would continue "until further notice." Global internet monitoring organization NetBlocks has confirmed multiple networks went offline in a stepwise manner, with both mobile internet and satellite television services now severely disrupted across the country.

This telecommunications shutdown follows a series of restrictive measures implemented since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, including banning education for women beyond age twelve, removing women-authored books from university curricula, and closing vocational training programs. The blackout has drawn comparisons to other closed regimes, with former Afghan officials abroad describing the communication silence as "deafening" and warning of intensified economic hardship and information isolation.

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