Afghanistan’s internet and mobile connectivity was restored on Wednesday, nearly 48 hours after a nationwide blackout disrupted communication and daily life. Services from Roshan and Etisalat, two of the country’s largest foreign-owned telecom providers, resumed in the afternoon, with residents in Kabul and other major cities confirming access.
The ruling Taliban administration did not officially explain the outage. A source in the Taliban’s information department attributed the disruption to “technical reasons,” but declined to clarify whether it was directly ordered by authorities.
Why It Matters
The blackout had crippling consequences for Afghanistan’s fragile economy and society. Financial remittances lifelines for millions of Afghan households were interrupted, banking operations stalled, and trade with neighboring countries slowed sharply. Travel was also impacted, with flight cancellations leaving many stranded.
Beyond economics, the outage cut off access to online learning platforms used by Afghan women and girls, who remain barred from formal secondary and higher education. The disruption also followed earlier restrictive measures this year, including an internet ban in northern provinces and even a prohibition on playing chess, which the Taliban claimed encouraged gambling.
Taliban officials: Downplayed the disruption, citing “technical issues,” while avoiding acknowledgment of any directive to suspend services.
United Nations: Urged the Taliban to reinstate connectivity, framing it as essential to humanitarian work and citizens’ rights.
Local population: Expressed frustration at the chaos caused by the outage, particularly as digital infrastructure underpins remittances, trade, and education.
Future Outlook
The sudden suspension of connectivity raises concerns about digital freedoms under Taliban rule. Even if this week’s blackout was technical, the broader pattern of restrictions suggests Afghanistan’s access to global communication remains vulnerable to political decisions.
Observers warn that repeated disruptions could deepen the country’s isolation, undermine confidence in financial and commercial transactions, and further restrict women’s access to education. The restoration of services has brought temporary relief, but the uncertainty of future connectivity continues to shadow Afghanistan’s economic recovery and social resilience.
With information from Reuters.
