Kabul: Afghanistan is facing a nationwide communications blackout as internet and mobile services remain suspended for the second day in a row, following a sweeping decision by Taliban authorities to sever the country’s fibre optic infrastructure.
The blackout, which began in phases earlier this month, escalated dramatically on Monday night. By evening, mobile networks and internet connectivity had dropped to less than one percent of normal capacity, according to global internet watchdog NetBlocks. This marks the most extensive communications shutdown since the Taliban assumed power in 2021.
Residents across major cities, including Kabul, reported complete service disruptions. “We are blind without phones and internet,” said a local shopkeeper, who relies entirely on mobile communication for daily business operations.
A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the disruption affects between 8,000 to 9,000 telecom towers. The shutdown, described as indefinite, is expected to impact critical infrastructure such as banking, customs operations, and digital services.
Officials in the northern province of Balkh had earlier confirmed the ban on fibre optic internet, citing moral reasons. According to provincial spokesperson Attaullah Zaid, the restrictions were aimed at curbing “vice,” a term frequently used by the Taliban to justify censorship and strict social regulations.
Similar restrictions have been reported in several provinces including Kandahar, Helmand, Takhar, Badakhshan, Nangarhar, and Uruzgan. While authorities have claimed that alternative forms of communication will eventually be rolled out, there is no clear timeline for restoration.
Despite Afghanistan having a 9,350-kilometre fibre optic network — largely developed during the previous, Western-backed government — access to the digital world is now shrinking under Taliban rule. The same infrastructure once seen as a backbone for modernization and economic growth is now at the centre of state control and suppression.
As the blackout continues, concerns are growing over its long-term impact on governance, humanitarian relief efforts, and the everyday lives of citizens increasingly reliant on digital connectivity.
