Afghanistan has been plunged into near-total isolation after the Taliban government imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, leaving Kabul’s main airport at a standstill and crippling vital services across the country.
The suspension of internet access, which took effect on Monday, was announced without a clear explanation from Taliban authorities, who stated only that the shutdown would remain “until further notice.” The move has sparked alarm both within Afghanistan and abroad, with the United Nations warning that the decision risks causing “significant harm” to millions of Afghans who rely on digital connectivity for daily life.
The impact has been immediate and far-reaching. Residents report widespread communication breakdowns, preventing families from contacting loved ones inside and outside the country. Banking and payment systems, many of which rely on online platforms, have also been severely disrupted. For women and girls, already facing restrictions on education, the loss of online learning platforms has cut off one of their last remaining educational lifelines.
At Kabul’s main airport, the effects are striking. Eyewitnesses described a “nearly deserted” terminal, with no visible evidence of planes taking off or landing. The lack of internet has reportedly disrupted flight operations, ticketing, and air traffic coordination, compounding Afghanistan’s isolation from the outside world.
International observers have expressed concern that the blackout could worsen Afghanistan’s already fragile humanitarian situation. Aid groups warn that the inability to communicate or transfer funds could hinder relief operations in a country where millions remain dependent on international assistance.
While the Taliban has not clarified its reasons for imposing the shutdown, critics argue that it is a move designed to tighten control and restrict the flow of information. For ordinary Afghans, however, the blackout represents another layer of hardship in an already dire crisis.
Taliban Internet Shutdown Halts Kabul Airport
