Afghanistan Restores Internet After 48-Hour Nationwide Blackout
Afghanistan's internet and mobile services were restored after a 48-hour shutdown that disrupted daily life and raised concerns over human rights and economic stability.
Afghanistan's internet and mobile services were restored on October 1, 2025, following a 48-hour nationwide shutdown that began on September 29. The blackout disrupted daily life, affecting businesses, banks, airports, and schools, and left the country largely cut off from the outside world.
The Taliban government attributed the outage to deteriorating fiber-optic cables requiring replacement. However, earlier in September, provincial officials had indicated that internet restrictions were ordered by the group's supreme leader to prevent "immorality."
The United Nations expressed concern over the shutdown, stating it "left Afghanistan almost completely cut off from the outside world" and urged authorities to restore access.
Human Rights Watch highlighted the impact on education, particularly for women and girls who rely on online learning due to existing bans on secondary and higher education.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that connectivity had dropped to one percent of normal levels during the blackout.
The restoration of services has alleviated immediate concerns, but the incident underscores the fragility of Afghanistan's digital infrastructure and the potential for future disruptions.
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