Internet and mobile phone services across Afghanistan were severely disrupted on Tuesday, with connectivity plunging to nearly 1%, according to international monitoring organizations. While residents and monitoring services reported the blackout, the Taliban administration has not issued an official explanation.
The disruption follows recent moves by the Taliban to restrict digital access. In the past, officials cited morality concerns, particularly regarding online content, and cut fibre-optic links to several provinces. Private broadcaster Tolo News reported that authorities have now set a one-week deadline to shut down 3G and 4G services, leaving only the slower 2G network available.
Independent monitors including NetBlocks and Cloudflare Radar confirmed that the sharpest declines in connectivity were recorded in Kabul, followed by Herat and Kandahar. The phased shutdown began Monday, extending to telephone services due to shared infrastructure.
The move is part of a broader tightening of restrictions under Taliban rule. In recent months, the leadership has banned women from universities, most employment, and even entry into U.N. offices, further eroding women’s freedoms. For many Afghan women, the internet had become a vital tool for remote work and economic survival, a lifeline now under threat.
Women’s rights activist Sanam Kabiri, speaking from outside Afghanistan, described the clampdown as another instrument of repression:
“The Taliban are using every tool at their disposal to suppress the people. What else do these ignorant men of another century want from our oppressed people?”
The Taliban continue to assert that they respect women’s rights under their interpretation of Islamic law, though their actions tell a different story. Meanwhile, the shutdown underscores the regime’s growing control over communication channels at a time when international engagement, including recent talks with U.S. officials, remains ongoing.
