On Wednesday, internet access finally flickered back to life across various regions of Afghanistan. This followed a sudden, two-day nationwide telecommunications blackout that brought the economy to a standstill, grounded flights, and fueled widespread speculation about its cause.
The sweeping internet and cellphone service suspension plunged millions of Afghans into a deeper sense of dread and isolation. Already grappling with severe restrictions on their freedoms under Taliban rule, citizens found themselves cut off from the world, exacerbating existing anxieties.
A profound silence from Taliban officials, coupled with government statements denying any knowledge of the shutdown’s cause or its resumption, only intensified the confusion and frustration among the populace.
Before services resumed, Aqa Gul Panjshiri, a trader dealing in food, care products, and cigarettes, voiced the sentiments of many: “I want the government to make it clear: Why is the internet cut off? And how long will it last?”
Attempts to reach Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s official spokesman, and his deputy, Hamdullah Fitrat, for comment went unanswered. Inayatullah Alokozay, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Telecommunications, admitted on Wednesday evening, “I still don’t have the reason for the internet cutoff.”
Despite the lack of official explanation, an international diplomatic assessment, corroborated by three current and former foreign officials in the region, pointed to Afghanistan’s leader, Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, as the originator of the shutdown order. This recent blackout followed just weeks after Mr. Akhundzada had initiated an earlier internet crackdown in mid-September, impacting roughly half of the country’s 34 provinces.
Unlike previous localized restrictions where mobile internet often remained accessible, this time all telecommunication services abruptly ceased shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday. An Afghan telecommunications engineer, formerly involved in national infrastructure projects and speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisal, suggested this indicated a highly coordinated effort to sever the country’s digital ties.
For two days, Kabul, a bustling city of six million, fell into an unsettling silence. Airport operations were largely suspended, with most flights canceled. Banks remained shut, preventing citizens from accessing their month-end salaries or receiving crucial remittances from family overseas – funds that often serve as a vital economic lifeline. The blackout also severed a critical link for hundreds of thousands of girls who depend on online platforms for their education, as the Taliban’s policies continue to bar them from schooling past the sixth grade.
Both local residents and international diplomats agreed: even with the Taliban’s history of imposing severe restrictions, this nationwide shutdown was unprecedented in its scope and impact. Previously, the Taliban’s control over telecommunications was mainly characterized by brief, localized outages, such as those implemented in Kabul to quell early protests following their return to power. They had also selectively blocked platforms like TikTok and prevented content uploads to YouTube.
This recent move echoed the Taliban’s initial period of rule from 1996 to 2001, when internet use was completely forbidden. However, contemporary Afghanistan presents a vastly different landscape; smartphone adoption has exploded alongside 4G network expansion, making social media, mobile banking, and various online services integral to daily life for millions.
The sudden digital silence shocked not only Afghans within the country and expatriates but also business owners who have diligently worked to sustain Afghanistan’s struggling economy. Mr. Panjshiri, the trader previously quoted, recounted being unable to track a container of goods valued at $150,000 or receive payments from clients necessary to pay his 15 employees. He expressed growing apprehension: “After the takeover, I trusted the government and I didn’t take my investment out of the country. But now, everything is confusing, and I can’t make a decision.”
Top foreign officials and diplomats stationed in the region condemned the internet shutdown as reckless. Humanitarian organizations reported severe disruptions to their operations, hindering critical relief efforts following a devastating earthquake last month that claimed over 2,200 lives, and impeding assistance for the more than 2.7 million Afghans who have returned from Iran and Pakistan this year. A senior humanitarian officer from an international organization highlighted the grave safety concerns, stating that the outage made it impossible to track field workers. The United Nations estimates that half of Afghanistan’s 43 million population is in dire need of humanitarian aid.
For some Afghans, the internet blackout escalated already life-threatening situations. Jawad Mohammadi, 37, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, found himself in Kabul with his brother, who required immediate hospitalization for severe kidney stones. Doctors advised urgent surgery, but Mohammadi struggled to secure funds from relatives due to the communication breakdown. While the internet remained down, he shared his predicament: “The hospital refuses to proceed with the operation unless we pay in advance.”
Just as mysteriously as it began, internet service was restored across the country after two days, without any official announcement. As night descended on Kabul, the city buzzed with renewed life—the sound of phone calls and notification alerts filling the air as residents eagerly reconnected with friends and family. Even Taliban government employees were seen stepping out of their offices, casually sitting on the grass, catching up on missed messages on WhatsApp, their preferred communication tool.
Mr. Mohammadi, relieved, confirmed he had finally reached his family. “They will send the money tomorrow,” he stated, hopeful for his brother’s impending surgery.
Additional reporting for this story was provided by Zia ur-Rehman and Francesca Regalado.