Kabul, Sept 29, 2025: Afghanistan is facing one of the most extensive internet blackouts in its history, as the Taliban government moves to impose sweeping restrictions on digital access across the country. The cybersecurity monitoring group NetBlocks has confirmed that nationwide internet connectivity has dropped to just 14 percent of normal levels, calling the situation a deliberate and coordinated disruption.
The blackout follows a series of orders issued by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada earlier this month, instructing authorities in several northern provinces to shut down fiber-optic internet services. Provinces including Balkh, Kunduz, Takhar, Badakhshan, and Baghlan were among the first to lose access. Since then, the restrictions have spread further, including to the capital, Kabul.
On September 28, the Kabul bureau of the international news agency AFP reported a complete loss of communications—mobile phone service included—at around 6:15 PM local time. While some mobile networks remain technically active, their services have become severely degraded, with users reporting extremely slow speeds and frequent disconnections.
Taliban officials have defended the move, claiming it is necessary to “prevent immorality.” In a statement posted earlier this month, Balkh provincial spokesperson Ataullah Zaed stated that the decision was made in accordance with religious directives. He added that alternative systems would be put in place to meet essential communication needs, but no such arrangements have yet materialized, leaving millions effectively cut off from the digital world.
The consequences of the blackout are already being deeply felt across Afghan society. For many students, particularly girls and women who have already been banned from secondary and higher education, the internet was their last remaining pathway to learning. With online classes now out of reach, their futures have once again been put on hold.
The economic impact is equally devastating. Thousands of freelancers, small business owners, and remote workers depended on internet access for their livelihoods. Many now find themselves unable to conduct transactions, reach clients, or participate in global markets. In a fragile economy already under immense pressure, the blackout risks worsening unemployment and deepening poverty.
Independent journalism has also been severely affected. With communications down, many media outlets are unable to gather or verify news from outside their immediate surroundings. The blackout appears to be part of a broader strategy by the Taliban to control the flow of information and suppress dissent, raising serious concerns among press freedom and human rights organizations.
Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban has steadily increased its control over media, education, and civil society. The current internet shutdown represents the most aggressive step yet in its ongoing campaign to isolate the population and silence alternative voices.
International reactions have been swift but largely symbolic. Human rights groups, UN agencies, and global watchdogs have condemned the move and called for the immediate restoration of internet services. However, with limited diplomatic leverage and little transparency from the Taliban, there is growing concern that the blackout could become a long-term policy rather than a temporary measure.
As the country enters another uncertain chapter, millions of Afghans remain disconnected—not only from the internet, but from education, opportunity, and the outside world.