In brief
Afghanistan's main airport has ground to a halt following an internet shutdown enforced by the Taliban government. The ban, which began on Monday, has severely disrupted communication, banking, and education services. Kabul residents report a deserted airport and cancelled flights, while the United Nations warns of significant humanitarian consequences due to the blackout. Women and girls face added struggles as access to online education has been cut off, further affecting their future.
Afghanistan's main airport is at a standstill as the country grapples with the fallout of a nationwide internet shutdown imposed by the Taliban government.
The Taliban has yet to give an official reason for the decision, which took effect on Monday, but did say it would last until further notice. The UN stated that it risked inflicting significant harm.
Communication within Afghanistan, and out to the wider world, has been severely affected, as have essential services - including banking and payments - and access to online education, a lifeline for many women and girls.
Kabul airport, meanwhile, was nearly deserted, according to one resident, with no evidence of planes arriving or leaving.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 showed that several incoming and outgoing flights on Tuesday had been cancelled, with many more marked as unknown. A passenger expecting to fly into Kabul on Tuesday was informed that flights would not resume until Thursday at the earliest.
Life in Kabul may seem normal on the surface, but a local noted that there is no communication at all across the country.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has called on the Taliban to immediately restore nationwide internet access, warning that the loss of connectivity threatens significant harm, including potential economic stability issues exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“The cut in access has left Afghanistan almost completely cut off from the outside world,” the statement warned.
'We are blind without internet'
The Taliban has been dismantling fiber-optic internet connections across several provinces. Although the capital Kabul was initially spared, residents reported losing access to the internet towards the end of work hours on Monday.
Najibullah, a shopkeeper in Kabul, expressed that residents feel blind without phones and internet, noting that their businesses rely heavily on connectivity for deliveries. The absence of mobile communication has led to stagnant markets.
However, while banks remain open, people are crowded around them to withdraw money, but only a limited amount of cash is available. In southern Helmand province, banks have closed completely, and payment processes have been halted.
Reports from news agencies indicate that contact has been lost with offices in the capital, with mobile and satellite services also affected.
A Kabul journalist mentioned a challenge in contacting guests for interviews, stating that they've never experienced such a communication disruption before.
The internet blackout leaves many aspiring students, particularly women, without access to online education. A woman expressed despair over being unable to finish her studies or pursue online job opportunities.
A 'total internet blackout'
Netblocks indicated in a previous post that multiple networks were disconnected in a total internet blackout as the Taliban pushed forward morality measures, affecting telephone services as well.
The Taliban governor in Balkh declared that the ban on fiber-optic internet was necessary to curb evils and stated that they would explore alternatives, though the exact reason for the shutdown remains unclear.
This latest restriction is part of a broader trend of curtailing freedoms in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control in 2021. Women, in particular, have faced increasing barriers to education and economic participation.
