Afghanistan Plunges Into Third Day of Nationwide Internet Blackout, Sparking Widespread Crisis

A nationwide internet outage in Afghanistan entered its third consecutive day on Wednesday, intensifying an already palpable sense of dread and isolation for millions living under the four-year-old Taliban government. Since the blackout began on Monday evening, communication among ordinary Afghans and with the outside world has become virtually impossible, as reported by internet watchdogs like NetBlocks. The consequences are far-reaching: banking services have ground to a halt, flights are grounded, and critical aid distribution efforts by United Nations agencies—among the few international organizations still operating in the country—are severely obstructed. The Afghan government, under Taliban leadership since 2021, has not yet publicly commented on the outage. However, a diplomatic official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the restrictions, indicated that the blackout was ordered by Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, to combat the spread of “vice.” Both this official and an Afghan Foreign Ministry official relayed that the internet shutdown is expected to continue “until further notice.” Since their return to power, the Taliban government has steadily increased Afghanistan’s isolation, notably by banning girls from education beyond the sixth grade and imposing extensive restrictions on individual freedoms and digital communications, citing religious principles. Such a widespread and prolonged telecommunications outage is a rare occurrence, even in authoritarian states. While some governments, like Syria under President Bashar al-Assad in 2012, have implemented significant blackouts during periods of unrest, these are typically localized or short-lived. Afghanistan’s current situation stands out for its comprehensive nature and extended duration. The impact on daily life and humanitarian efforts is profound. Cash transfers and aid deliveries to vulnerable communities outside Kabul, the capital, are virtually paralyzed, with no flights able to depart for two days. A source in Kabul familiar with aid operations, who requested anonymity for security reasons, confirmed that UN staff in the capital are struggling to reach colleagues in other regions, including Afghan women who are barred from entering UN compounds. This communication crisis hits at a particularly vulnerable time. Aid workers are still grappling with the aftermath of a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan that claimed over 1,400 lives in late August. Additionally, they are managing the recent influx of more than a million Afghan refugees who have crossed the western border from Iran. In response, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan publicly urged the Taliban on Tuesday to immediately restore internet and telecommunications services, emphasizing the country’s dire economic state and ongoing humanitarian emergencies.