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Afghanistan ‘blind without phones and internet’ on second day of telecoms blackout Afghanistan ‘blind without phones and internet’ on second day of telecoms blackout
(about 3 hours later)
Taliban authorities cut fibre-optic network in nationwide shutdown of communications to prevent ‘vice’Taliban authorities cut fibre-optic network in nationwide shutdown of communications to prevent ‘vice’
Afghanistan faced a second day without internet and mobile phone service on Tuesday after Taliban authorities cut the fibre-optic network. Afghans are living under a near-complete communications blackout after Taliban authorities cut internet and mobile phone service for a second day as part of an unprecedented country-wide crackdown.
The government began shutting down high-speed internet connections to some provinces earlier in the month to prevent “vice”, on the orders of the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The former insurgents, who retook control of Afghanistan in 2021, began gradual restrictions on internet access earlier this month. The measures also affect telephone lines, as they are often routed over the internet.
On Monday night, mobile phone signal and internet service gradually weakened nationwide until connectivity was less than 1% of the ordinary levels, according to the internet watchdog NetBlocks. High-speed connections to some provinces were cut in mid-September to “prevent immorality”, on the orders of the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
It is the first time since the Taliban government won their insurgency in 2021 and imposed a strict version of Islamic law that communications have been shut down in the country. On Monday night, mobile phone signal and internet service gradually weakened nationwide until connectivity was less than 1% of ordinary levels, according to the internet watchdog NetBlocks. On Tuesday, internet and telephone services continued to be down.
“We are blind without phones and internet,” said Najibullah, a 42-year-old shopkeeper in Kabul. “All our business relies on mobiles. The deliveries are with mobiles. It’s like a holiday, everyone is at home. The market is totally frozen.” “We are blind without phones and internet,” said Najibullah, a 42-year-old shopkeeper in Kabul. “All our business relies on mobiles. The deliveries are with mobiles. It’s like a holiday; everyone is at home. The market is totally frozen.”
In the minutes before it happened, a government official warned AFP that the fibre-optic network would be cut, also affecting mobile phone services. While officials have previously blocked access to social media or restricted access to the internet, it was the first time the Taliban government had cut communications across the whole country.
The administration offered no immediate explanation for the blackout, although in recent weeks it has voiced concern about pornography online. Rights groups say the regime is instead trying to disconnect Afghans from the world to suppress the population.
Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch who focuses on Afghanistan, said cutting off access to the internet deprived millions of Afghans of their livelihoods and fundamental rights to education, healthcare and access to information. “The Taliban,” she said, “should drop its excuses about morality and instead focus on how these shutdowns are causing irreversible harm.”
The regime has enforced strict restrictions on women and freedom of expression, including purging books written by women from the country’s universities, blocking girls from studying and women from working, and even banning chess, which it said encouraged gambling.
In the minutes before Monday’s blackout happened, a government official warned the Agence France-Presse news agency that the fibre-optic network would be cut, also affecting mobile phone services.
“Eight to nine thousand telecommunications pillars” would be shut down, he said, adding that the blackout would last “until further notice”.“Eight to nine thousand telecommunications pillars” would be shut down, he said, adding that the blackout would last “until further notice”.
“There isn’t any other way or system to communicate … the banking sector, customs, everything across the country will be affected,” said the official, who asked not to be named. “There isn’t any other way or system to communicate … The banking sector, customs, everything across the country will be affected,” said the official, who asked not to be named.
The Taliban leader reportedly ignored warnings from some officials earlier this month about the economic fallout of cutting the internet, and ordered authorities to press ahead with a nationwide ban.The Taliban leader reportedly ignored warnings from some officials earlier this month about the economic fallout of cutting the internet, and ordered authorities to press ahead with a nationwide ban.
Diplomatic sources told AFP on Tuesday that mobile networks were mostly shut down.
A UN source said: “Operations are severely impacted, falling back to radio communications and limited satellite links.”A UN source said: “Operations are severely impacted, falling back to radio communications and limited satellite links.”
Telephone services are often routed over the internet, sharing the same fibre-optic lines, especially in countries with limited telecoms infrastructure.
Over the past weeks, internet connections in Afghanistan have been extremely slow or intermittent.
On 16 September, the Balkh provincial spokesperson Attaullah Zaid said the ban had come from the Taliban leader’s orders. “This measure was taken to prevent vice, and alternative options will be put in place across the country to meet connectivity needs,” he wrote on social media.On 16 September, the Balkh provincial spokesperson Attaullah Zaid said the ban had come from the Taliban leader’s orders. “This measure was taken to prevent vice, and alternative options will be put in place across the country to meet connectivity needs,” he wrote on social media.
At the time, AFP correspondents reported the same restrictions in the northern provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar, as well as in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand, Nangarhar in the east and the central province of Uruzgan. At the time, the same restrictions were applied in the northern provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar, as well as in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand, Nangarhar in the east and the central province of Uruzgan.
Netblocks, a watchdog organisation that monitors cybersecurity and internet governance, said the blackout appeared “consistent with the intentional disconnection of service”.Netblocks, a watchdog organisation that monitors cybersecurity and internet governance, said the blackout appeared “consistent with the intentional disconnection of service”.
AFP lost all contact with its bureau in the capital Kabul at about 5.45pm (13.15 GMT) on Monday. Telephone services are often routed over the internet, sharing the same fibre-optic lines, especially in countries with limited telecoms infrastructure.In 2024, Kabul had touted the 9,350km (5,800-mile) national fibre-optic network – largely built by former US-backed governments – as a “priority” to bring the country closer to the rest of the world and lift it out of poverty.
“Because of the shutdown, I’m totally disconnected with my family in Kabul,” a 40-year-old Afghan living in Oman told AFP via text message, asking not to be named. “I don’t know what’s happening, I’m really worried.” Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report
In 2024, Kabul had touted the 9,350km (5,800-mile) national fibre-optic network – largely built by former US-backed governments – as a “priority” to bring the country closer to the rest of the world and lift it out of poverty.