Taliban Shuts Down Internet, Mobile Services Across Afghanistan, Severing Nationwide Communications

Internet and mobile phone services across Afghanistan were deliberately shut down by the Taliban as part of "moral measures," causing a near-total communications blackout that severely disrupts daily life, education, and access to essential services. The shutdown, confirmed by monitoring groups like NetBlocks and Cloudflare Radar, has reduced connectivity to around 1%, primarily affecting major cities such as Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar. The Taliban have imposed a one-week deadline to phase out 3G and 4G mobile internet, leaving only 2G active, further isolating the country. These actions coincide with increasingly hardline restrictions, including barring women from many jobs, schools, and UN offices. The Taliban claim to respect women's rights according to their interpretation of Islamic law, but activists denounce the move as oppressive. The blackout has drawn international concern over Afghanistan's growing isolation and the suppression of its people.