Afghanistan Faces Total Telecom Blackout as Taliban Enforces Internet Shutdown

Fri Oct 10 2025 11:40:23 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Taliban has implemented a nationwide shutdown of telecommunications in Afghanistan, causing severe internet and mobile service disruptions. This move, seen as a morality measure, has drawn international attention and criticism.

In a drastic step towards enforcing their interpretation of Sharia law, the Taliban has shut down telecommunications across Afghanistan, leading to a complete internet blackout. The move disrupts communication for many residents, intensifying isolation and curtailing business operations. This blackout follows a series of restrictions affecting women's education and other freedoms since the Taliban regained power.

The Taliban in Afghanistan have imposed a nationwide shutdown of telecommunications, weeks after they began severing fibre-optic internet connections to prevent what they call immorality.

The country is currently experiencing a total connectivity blackout, according to internet watchdog, Netblocks.

International news agency AFP reports it lost contact with its office in Kabul, including mobile phone service. Extensive disruptions to mobile internet and satellite TV services have been reported across the country.

Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has enforced numerous restrictions based on their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, affecting many aspects of daily life.

Flight operations from Kabul airport have also been impacted, as multiple reports indicate that numerous telecom networks across Afghanistan were disconnected starting around 17:00 local time (12:30 GMT), with users noticing the impact as businesses prepare to resume.

Netblocks stated on social media, 'Afghanistan is now in the midst of a total internet blackout as Taliban authorities move to implement morality measures; telephone services are currently also impacted'.

Business leaders and citizens have voiced concerns that the internet shutdown will severely affect their operations, with former news editor Hamid Haidari commenting, 'loneliness enveloped the entire country.' He also noted that 'Afghanistan has now officially taken first place in the competition with North Korea for [internet] disconnection.'

This blackout is the latest in a series of restrictions that the Taliban have imposed since regaining control, including recent moves to remove books authored by women from universities and limit educational opportunities for girls beyond age 12.

The international community watches closely as these developments unfold, raising concerns regarding human rights and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.