Taliban Shuts Down Internet Across Afghanistan, Raising UN Concerns

On Monday, the Taliban implemented a shutdown of internet and communication services throughout Afghanistan, essentially cutting off the nation from the digital world. This action has triggered a warning from the United Nations, which notes the potential for “serious harm” to Afghan citizens.

Reports indicate that the blackout began after disabling Afghanistan’s extensive 9,350 kilometers of fiber optic network. As a result, flights have been canceled, banks are inoperative, and numerous citizens and businesses find themselves isolated.

Kabul International Airport now sees all commercial flights either canceled or listed as “unknown,” making it appear nearly deserted, according to information from Reuters.

Authorities have termed these widespread disruptions in major urban areas as “wake-up calls,” citing threats posed by foreign adversaries to U.S. security.

The Taliban has not provided a clear explanation for the outage, stating that the shutdown will last “until further notice.”

Monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed a drastic decline in internet traffic, estimating levels at a mere 1% of what is normal, underscoring an unparalleled level of disruption.

After confirming the disruption of mobile phone connectivity, diplomatic and industry sources reported that the Taliban had mandated the suspension of internet and mobile data services across the nation.

Phased reductions in connectivity began on Monday and finished with the shutdown of telephone services reliant on internet infrastructure.

This nationwide blackout appears to be a part of a larger campaign orchestrated by the Taliban leader, Hibatura Ahuntzada. Earlier in September, he initiated the dismantling of fiber optic networks in various provinces.

While authorities justify the shutdown by claiming it addresses “immorality” online, Afghan telecommunications companies are attempting to manage this complex situation under the Taliban’s directives, with the hope of restoring services quickly.

A local broadcaster, Tolo News, reported that the Taliban has set a one-week deadline to decommission 3G and 4G services, leaving only 2G operational.

The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has urgently called on the Taliban to restore access, highlighting that such blackouts could nearly isolate Afghanistan from the outside world, which would cause significant harm to its populace.

UN officials have noted that the shutdown severely hampers humanitarian efforts. Arafat Jamal, the UN refugee agency’s representative in Afghanistan, underscored that frontline workers cannot effectively reach those in need, including areas hit by a recent deadly earthquake.

“This situation adds another layer to an already existing crisis,” he remarked via satellite from Kabul.