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Afghanistan has entered a nationwide communications blackout after the Taliban ordered the suspension of internet and telecom services, leaving millions disconnected from the outside world.
Global internet watchdog NetBlocks confirmed what it called a "total internet blackout," reporting that connectivity dropped in phases before collapsing entirely. The shutdown, which began with disruptions to fiber-optic services earlier this month, has now spread to mobile networks and satellite TV.
Newsrooms across Kabul told international media they had lost contact with reporters in the capital and surrounding provinces. Private station Tolo News advised viewers to follow its social channels for updates, anticipating that its broadcast networks may soon be silenced.
Flights from Kabul International Airport have also been affected, with at least eight departures canceled on Tuesday, according to Flightradar24. Diplomats warned that banking and e-commerce systems are likely to face severe disruption, paralyzing businesses nationwide.
Residents say the impact became noticeable late Monday. "My daughters' online English classes stopped suddenly, their last hope for learning has vanished," a money changer in Takhar province told the BBC. Another woman, cut off from her remote courses, described her dream of finishing studies and finding online work as "destroyed."
Afghan activists and former officials reacted with alarm. "Afghanistan has now officially taken first place in the competition with North Korea for disconnection," former 1TV editor Hamid Haidari posted online. Mariam Solaimankhil, once a member of parliament, called the silence "deafening," warning of a country erased from the digital map.
The Taliban has offered no detailed explanation. Officials previously suggested an "alternative route" for internet access would be created, without elaborating. Analysts see the blackout as part of a broader morality crackdown: earlier this month, women-authored books were removed from university courses, and midwifery training, one of the last educational paths open to women, was quietly shut down.
For Afghan students, professionals, and families, the blackout has dealt a crushing blow. As one university student put it: "When I heard the internet was cut, the world felt dark to me."
