Afghanistan Plunges into Nationwide Internet Blackout Under Taliban 'Morality Measures'

Nationwide Communications Blackout Imposed

Afghanistan was plunged into a widespread internet and communications blackout on Monday, September 29, 2025, as Taliban authorities implemented what they described as 'morality measures.' The incident has led to a near-total disruption of connectivity across the country, severely impacting both fiber-optic and mobile internet services. Internet governance watchdog Netblocks reported that national connectivity dropped to as low as 14% of ordinary levels, with some reports indicating it fell to less than 1%.

The blackout marks the most extensive and coordinated telecom shutdown in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power in 2021. Notices shared by local internet providers indicated the disruption was carried out on the orders of Taliban authorities.

'Morality Measures' Cited for Disruption

The Taliban's supreme leader, Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, reportedly ordered the ban to 'prevent immoral activities,' according to Haji Zahid, a local Taliban spokesperson in the northern province of Balkh. This nationwide shutdown follows earlier restrictions implemented in mid-September, where fiber-optic connections were banned in several provinces, including Balkh, Badakhshan, Takhar, Kandahar, Helmand, Nangarhar, and Uruzgan. While previous bans primarily affected broadband internet, the current measure has simultaneously shut down both major communication channels, effectively isolating the country.

Widespread Impact on Daily Life and Services

The internet blackout has had immediate and far-reaching consequences across Afghanistan:

• Connectivity: Telephone services have also been impacted, as they often rely on the same fiber lines as internet services.
• Economy: Businesses, banking services, customs operations, and government functions have been severely disrupted. Shopkeepers in Kabul described being 'blind without phones and internet,' with markets 'totally frozen.'
• Education: The shutdown is particularly devastating for women and girls, many of whom relied on online platforms for education after being barred from schools and universities.
• Media: International and local news outlets, including Tolo News TV and RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and Radio Mashaal, have reported severe disruptions to their operations.
• Humanitarian Aid: Concerns have been raised that prolonged shutdowns could complicate humanitarian relief operations, which depend on digital platforms.
• International Communication: Afghans abroad have been cut off from their families, and international calls into Afghanistan are largely impossible.

The US State Department's spokeswoman Elizabeth Stickney expressed concern, stating that 'these restrictions will have a negative impact on people's lives and the economy.' Rights groups and observers view the move as an unprecedented step to tighten control over communications and information flow.