Taliban cuts off Afghanistan from the world, citing 'moral values'
Photo: Taliban (Getty Images)
The Taliban has deliberately shut down internet and phone connections across Afghanistan, claiming the move is part of a fight against "immorality", according to The Guardian.
According to NetBlocks, Afghanistan’s internet connectivity has dropped to just 14% of normal levels, an incident experts classify as a nationwide deliberate telecoms blackout. As a result, millions of Afghans have been cut off from online services and mobile networks.
The restrictions reportedly began in early September, when the Taliban slowed internet speeds in several provinces before later cutting high-speed connections entirely. Over recent weeks, residents across the country have complained about extremely slow service and constant disruptions.
The most severe restrictions have been imposed in the northern provinces of Balkh, Badakhshan, and Takhar, as well as in southern regions including Kandahar, Helmand, Nangarhar, and Uruzgan.
Attaullah Zaid, a representative of Balkh province, said that fiber-optic internet in the north was completely shut down on the direct orders of the Taliban’s leader, allegedly to combat "immorality."
NetBlocks warns that restoring stable connectivity could prove difficult, as Afghanistan’s mobile services are deeply integrated with internet networks, meaning that recovery will likely require trial-and-error efforts.
In 2024, Afghanistan launched a major US-supported fiber-optic network linking the country to the global internet. However, since the Taliban seized power in 2021, most modern freedoms and infrastructure achievements have been systematically rolled back in line with the group’s strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The large-scale internet blackout has alarmed international human rights organizations, who warn that further isolation will severely restrict Afghans’ access to education, information, and the outside world, and hinder monitoring of human rights violations.
Meanwhile, the United States is reportedly in talks about returning troops to Afghanistan. Former President Donald Trump called the US withdrawal the most shameful day in the country’s history.
At the same time, Taliban Foreign Ministry official Zakir Jalal stated that the movement will not allow the US to regain control over any key airbase in Afghanistan.
