Afghanistan Faces Nationwide Digital Blackout As Taliban Cuts Internet
Lead Paragraph
Afghanistan has plunged into a nationwide communications blackout as the Taliban authorities cut off internet and mobile phone services for the second day, allegedly to prevent vice.
The unprecedented shutdown, which has seen connectivity levels drop to less than 1% of usual levels, has affected all spheres of life in the country, sparking concerns over serious implications for trade, education, and the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Background/Context
Under the orders of the Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban began shutting down high-speed internet connections to some provinces earlier this month. The government's move is reportedly aimed at preventing vice,
citing morality concerns. Previously, the Taliban had voiced concerns over online pornography, leading to the cutting of fiber-optic links.
Key Developments
On Monday, mobile phone signals and internet service began to weaken, culminating in a near-total digital blackout by Tuesday. Monitoring group NetBlocks has confirmed that traffic levels have dropped to around 1% of ordinary levels, indicating the massive scale of the disruption.
The shutdown has had a wide-ranging impact, grounding flights, freezing banking operations, and cutting off millions of businesses and citizens. Kabul International Airport has seen all commercial flights canceled or marked as unknown,
leaving the country's primary air hub virtually deserted.
The Taliban government has denied reports of a nationwide internet ban, attributing the blackout to worn-out fiber optic cables currently being replaced. However, reports from several provinces last month confirmed an internet shutdown due to a decree from the Taliban leader to combat immorality.
Implications or Reactions
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has appealed to the Taliban to restore internet access, warning that the disruption threatens economic stability and deepens the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Experts have also raised concerns over the serious consequences for trade and girls' access to education. For many Afghan women, the internet served as their last resource. The blackout has also caused despair among Afghans living abroad, who are now unable to reach their loved ones in one of the world's poorest countries.
Conclusion
Despite the Taliban's denial, the internet blackout continues to isolate Afghanistan from the world, with its duration remaining uncertain. As the impact of the shutdown reverberates across all sectors, the world watches closely, hoping for a resolution to this crisis. The situation underscores the fragility of digital connectivity in conflict zones and raises pressing questions about the future of Afghanistan under the Taliban's rule.