Afghan women have seen their hopes for education and independence vanquished as the Taliban enforces a nationwide internet shutdown, crippling their access to online learning and resources.

Following the Taliban's latest restrictions, including a severe ban on education for girls and women, a nationwide internet blackout has left many Afghans, particularly women, feeling helpless. Personal stories reveal the devastating impact on education, livelihoods, and aspirations, as access to online learning is severed, leaving a generation in despair.

Dismantling Dreams: Afghan Women and the Internet Shutdown

Fahima Noori had big dreams when she graduated from university in Afghanistan. She had studied law, graduated from a midwifery programme, and even worked in a mental health clinic. But all that was taken away when the Taliban swept into power in 2021. They banned girls over the age of 12 from getting an education, severely restricted job options for women, and recently removed books written by women from universities.

For Fahima, the internet was her last lifeline to the outside world. I recently enrolled in an online university [and] I had hoped to finish my studies and find an online job, she said. On Tuesday, that lifeline was cut off when the Taliban imposed a nationwide internet shutdown that is set to last indefinitely. Our last hope was online learning. Now [even] that dream has been destroyed, she added.

'We all sit at home doing nothing'

Over the past few weeks, the Taliban government began severing fibre-optic internet connections across several provinces, saying this was part of an effort to prevent immorality. Many feared this might be the first step towards a complete internet shutdown. Their worst fears were confirmed on Tuesday, with reports of a total internet blackout occurring across the nation.

International news agencies have lost contact with offices in Kabul, and mobile internet and satellite TV have suffered severe disruptions. For many female students, the internet was their hope for education; Shakiba, from Takhar, lamented, When I heard that the internet had been cut, the world felt dark to me. Another student shared feelings of helplessness: We dreamed of finishing our education… now... we all sit at home doing nothing. The internet shutdown has led to heartbreak, especially for students who were in the middle of online examinations.

In addition to students, teachers like Zabi, who previously ran an online English teaching centre, have been impacted. He expressed despair as many of his students, especially female students who are now without educational resources, feel hopeless as their last opportunity has vanished.

Many expressed concerns about the costs of alternative mobile data options, which have become too expensive for most Afghans. With a declining income averaging around $306 per person annually, the Taliban's ongoing restrictions are compounding the crisis faced by the nation.

The Taliban government has yet to provide further information on the internet shutdown, but the potential ramifications threatening education and livelihoods appear far-reaching. As the crisis deepens, Afghans, particularly women, find themselves in a precarious situation, stripped of crucial access to education and connection in a world increasingly moving online.