Afghanistan has been plunged into a total internet shutdown after the Taliban government severed fibre-optic connections across the country, cutting off millions from online education, work, and essential services.
The blackout, confirmed on Tuesday by internet watchdog NetBlocks, marks the most severe restriction on digital access since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Authorities have not provided an official explanation, though officials earlier claimed such measures were aimed at preventing “immorality.”
For many Afghans, particularly women, the move has destroyed their last lifeline to education and economic independence.
“I recently enrolled in an online university and had hoped to finish my studies and find an online job,” said Fahima, a law graduate and midwifery student whose real name has been changed for her safety. “Our last hope was online learning. Now even that dream has been destroyed.”
Women Hit the Hardest
Since regaining power, the Taliban have banned girls from secondary education, barred women from most jobs, and removed books authored by women from universities. For young women like Shakiba, an aspiring midwife from Takhar province, the internet had been the only way to continue learning.
“When I heard the internet had been cut, the world felt dark to me,” she said. “We want to study. We want to help people in the future. But now we all sit at home doing nothing.”
Teachers, too, have been devastated. Zabi, an English instructor in eastern Afghanistan, said he used to teach 70–80 students online, including women preparing for the IELTS exam. “Two days ago, about 45 of my students were in the middle of an exam when the internet was cut off. They had been preparing for months. It was heartbreaking.”
With no IELTS centres in Afghanistan, he fears his students have lost their only opportunity to pursue higher education abroad.
Economic Disruption
The shutdown has also paralyzed business. Anas, a money changer in Takhar province, said 90% of his work depends on the internet. “Yesterday my brother tried to send an email to a client. He couldn’t get it through,” he said. His greatest worry, however, is for his three daughters, all of whom were studying online. “Their last opportunity to study is now gone. Seeing my children so helpless was the hardest thing for me.”
Costly Alternatives, Uncertain Future
Before the blackout, mobile data offered a limited backup, but at prohibitive costs. A 100GB monthly data package costs around $50, compared to Afghanistan’s 2024 per capita income of just $306, according to the UNDP.
The Taliban have hinted at creating an “alternative route” for internet access, but provided no details or timeline.
International organisations and rights groups warn that the indefinite blackout will further isolate Afghanistan, already facing economic collapse and humanitarian crisis.
For Fahima and thousands like her, the shutdown represents more than a technical barrier. “It feels like the last door to our future has been slammed shut,” she said.
Source – My News Ghana
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