Taliban shuts down internet service in Afghanistan: Mobile network also down, decision taken to stop…

The Taliban have shut down internet and mobile network services across Afghanistan since Monday. According to the news website KabulNow, fiber-optic internet services were disrupted in several cities, including Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Uruzgan.

Mobile data continued to work for a while after this, but was eventually shut down due to the signal tower being down. According to media reports, this decision was taken to prevent unethical activities.

Earlier, fiber-optic networks were shut down in some provinces, such as Balkh, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, and Nimroz. But now, the internet shutdown has been implemented nationwide, including mobile networks.

Is international calls from Afghanistan possible?

The blackout has made international calls impossible in and out of Afghanistan, leaving many families, businesses, and aid organizations unable to contact each other.

Local internet providers told the media that the crackdown was carried out on Taliban orders. Meanwhile, NetBlocks, a cybersecurity monitoring organization, reported that internet connectivity in Afghanistan was at just 14% of normal levels.

Girls’ education is most affected

This Taliban decision will have the greatest impact on women and girls. The Taliban have already banned girls from attending school and university. Therefore, online classes will also become difficult for them.

A student in Kandahar told local media that without Wi-Fi, she would be unable to attend her online English classes. Another girl said, “The internet shutdown will disrupt my coding and graphic design studies.”

Local businesses are also likely to suffer losses

Local businesses in Afghanistan will also be affected by this decision. An online snack merchant in Mazar-e-Sharif said a few days ago, “We’re in the 21st century, but it feels like we’re going backwards. All my business is online.” Banks, passport offices, and government offices will also be affected.

Experts believe this move is an attempt to suppress dissent under the guise of preventing unethical practices. Beh Lih Yi, local director of the journalism organization Committee to Protect Journalists, recently said, “Such decisions undermine the work of journalists and the public’s right to information.”