Afghanistan was plunged into a nationwide internet blackout Tuesday after the Taliban cut off access in what it called a crackdown on “immoral activities.”
How do you cut the internet for a whole country?
— BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice) October 3, 2025
The Taliban government blocked the internet in Afghanistan for 48 hours.
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Internet watchdog NetBlocks confirmed that multiple networks and phone services were disconnected, creating what it described as a “total blackout” across the country of 43 million.
The United Nations urged the Taliban to restore communications immediately, warning that the shutdown would worsen Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
Afghanistan is under its first nationwide communications blackout since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, with internet and telecom services cut “until further notice.”
— TRT World (@trtworld) October 1, 2025
Here’s what we’ve known so far.
🔗https://t.co/HwwxzR6YTC pic.twitter.com/zElF3JjlsE
Afghans abroad described panic and anguish at losing contact with loved ones, while media outlets including Tolo News, AP, and AFP reported severe disruptions.
The blackout is the most sweeping since the Taliban regained power in 2021, reviving fears of a return to earlier bans on mass communication.
Internet connectivity in Afghanistan dropped to around 1%, NetBlocks said, as the Taliban cut services, affecting phone networks and aid communications. Read: https://t.co/Gsr2eoFRQH pic.twitter.com/V2gtpV2B5n
— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) October 1, 2025
Critics say the move silences millions, cuts off online education for girls, and isolates Afghans from the world. Women’s groups and exiled Afghan officials urged international action and even called for Starlink access.
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TIPP Staff
