On September 29th, a significant internet blackout hit Afghanistan, seemingly ordered by the Taliban to curb what they deem immoral activities, according to a spokesperson for the regime.
Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported that Taliban officials were seen “cutting textile optic cables in several provinces” weeks prior, leading to localized internet disruptions.
On Friday, a spokesperson from Northern Balkh state indicated that the cable cut was carried out under instructions from Taliban supreme leader Haibatura Ahuntzada. Just a few days later, most of Afghanistan experienced a complete internet shutdown, and mobile phone services faced severe disruptions.
“Recent studies in Afghanistan suggest that internet applications have adversely affected the country’s economic, cultural, and religious foundations,” remarked a Taliban spokesman.
According to NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, Afghanistan found itself “in the midst of a total internet blackout as Taliban leaders implement moral restrictions.” As of Tuesday afternoon, the blackout remained fully in place.
“We’re essentially blind without mobile access and the internet. Our businesses rely on phones. Delivery is entirely dependent on mobile services. It feels like a holiday; everyone is stuck at home. The market is just frozen,” I said, expressing frustration as the blackout extended into Tuesday.
A bank employee in Kabul noted that his client could no longer conduct “online banking, transactions, cash withdrawals or access funds,” highlighting the economic strain caused by the blackout.
Officials from the Afghan government indicated to AFP that the shutdown would persist “until further notice,” affecting crucial sectors like banking and customs. Notably, AFP also struggled to communicate with its office in Kabul on Monday evening.
Various local and international media organizations reported similar disruptions to their services due to the blackout, including RFE and Afghanistan Toro News.
National Akhundzada mentioned earlier this month that he had begun discussions regarding the closure of internet and mobile services. An advisor expressed concern that such actions would devastate Afghanistan’s already precarious economy, but the Supreme Leader appeared to disregard those warnings.
On Tuesday, the United Nations called for an immediate restoration of internet and communication services.
“Reducing access will essentially isolate Afghanistan from the rest of the world, jeopardizing the economic stability of its people and worsening one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally,” commented Afghanistan’s UN Support Mission (Unama).
Unama added that the ongoing blackouts further restrict access to information and freedom of expression within Afghanistan.
The UN also reported that their operations in Afghanistan were “seriously affected” by the outages, forcing staff to rely on “radio communications and limited satellite connections.”
BBC reported that Kabul’s airport was “stuck” and “almost deserted,” with no signs of arriving or departing flights. Airport officials indicated that all flights were canceled on Monday night and would not resume until at least Thursday.
“The Taliban should abandon their moral justifications and recognize that these closures are causing lasting damage,” stated Feresta Abbasi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW), in comments made to the UK Guardian on Tuesday.
