Internet Shutdown in Afghanistan Disrupts Lives, Sparks Outrage

Kokcha News Agency: The Taliban’s decision to cut off internet and telecommunication services across Afghanistan has sparked widespread outrage and severely impacted the lives of millions.

The shutdown has disrupted access to education, healthcare, and financial services, leaving citizens in the dark and unable to carry out basic daily activities.

An Afghan in Turkey shared his struggle, stating, “I can’t send money for my mother’s treatment because of the internet shutdown.” Similarly, truck drivers at the Afghan border reported that their operations have come to a halt due to the lack of communication.

Masih Alinejad, a prominent Iranian activist, condemned the shutdown, calling it a form of “gender apartheid” that further isolates Afghan women and girls who were already banned from in-person education. She emphasized that Afghan women deserve global support and solidarity.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also criticized the Taliban’s actions, stating that the internet shutdown violates the fundamental rights of Afghans. HRW noted that the blackout has disrupted access to education, business, media, and healthcare services, further marginalizing vulnerable groups, especially women and girls.

Even a Taliban official admitted the severe consequences of the shutdown, telling The Washington Post that “everything has come to a standstill” and that “we cannot live without the internet.”

The shutdown has also affected humanitarian aid, with services at the Islam Qala border disrupted and refugees unable to receive cash assistance. The Freedom Front accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into a “large prison” by closing off the last remaining avenues of communication with the outside world.

The UN Human Rights Council has also expressed concern, stating that the internet blackout has “serious human rights implications” and has halted the free flow of information essential for accessing basic services like healthcare and education.