The Taliban cut the internet and communications, isolating Afghanistan from the rest of the world. Extreme measures, in the name of morality
The Taliban regime completely interrupted access to the internet in Afghanistan, blocking both mobile networks and fiber optical connections, isolating the country, in the name of morality.
The Taliban cut the internet throughout the country. Photo: EPA-EFE
Afghanistan is facing a complete interruption of communications, following a radical decision taken by the Taliban government. According to the BBC, the authorities began a few weeks ago to limit the internet connections through fiber optic in several provinces, and now they have passed a total closing of the telecommunications networks, justifying the measure as part of the efforts to combat “Imorality”.
According to the NetBlocks independent organization, specialized in monitoring global networks, Afghanistan is currently in: “
Contacts with Kabul, interrupted
International press agencies have announced that they can no longer communicate with their offices in the capital of Kabul and whose mobile and satellite television television are severely affected throughout the country.
The Afghan Tolo News television station warned the citizens to watch its social media channels for news, anticipating major interruptions of TV and radio shows.
Canceled flights
Air traffic was also disturbed. According to the data provided by Flightradar24, eight flights scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, both on arrival and on departure, were canceled at the International Airport in Kabul.
Local media confirmed, in turn, that the airport activity is partially suspended.
Inhabitants of Kabul told the BBC that the fiber optic internet stopped around 5:00 pm, local time, ie 12:30 GMT. Because the interruption took place after the end of the working day, the major effects are to be felt starting on Tuesday, September 30, when banking activities and business are resumed.
Business and education, paralyzed
Affected are both entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens, especially women and children depending on online education.
A man working at a foreign exchange house in Takhar province reported that his daughters were attending online English courses, their only form of education.
“Their last chance to study and to stay involved has disappeared”, he explained.
“I was hoping to finish my studies and find an online job, but this dream was destroyed. Without access to the Internet, I do not know what will happen next.”
a young woman from Kabul told her despair.
The blocking of the Internet comes in the context of extreme measures adopted by the Talibans against women, including eliminating books written by women from the university program, banning courses on human rights and sexual harassment, etc.
“When I heard that the internet was interrupted, the world seemed dark,” confessed a student.
Taliban promises an “alternative”, without clear details
While the Taliban authorities said they would create an alternative Internet access route, but have not provided details on how or when they will become functional, journalists and former leaders of Afghan civil society in exile draw an alarm signal.
“Afghanistan officially occupied the first place in the competition with North Korea for disconnecting [de la internet]”, He wrote on X Hamid Haidari, former editor-in-chief of the 1TV channel.
“The online silence, without the Afghan voices inside Afghanistan, is deafening”, Says Mariam Solaimankhil, a former parliamentarian, who now lives in the US.
We remind you that the Taliban regime took control of Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, after the withdrawal of American and NATO forces. Although since then a series of severe restrictions have been imposed on the press, education, women's rights and social life, blocking access to the Internet is one of the most drastic measures taken so far, isolating Afghanistan not only physical, but also informational.
