Afghanistan 'blind without phones and internet' as telecoms blackout continues

Afghans are living under a near-complete communications blackout after Taliban authorities cut internet and mobile phone services for a second day as part of an unprecedented countrywide crackdown.

- Oliver Holmes

The former insurgents, who retook control of Afghanistan in 2021, began gradual restrictions on internet access last month. The measures also affect telephone lines, as they are often routed over the internet.

High-speed connections to some provinces were cut in mid-September to “prevent immorality”, on the orders of the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

On Monday night, mobile phone signal and internet service gradually weakened nationwide until connectivity was less than 1% of ordinary levels, according to the internet watchdog NetBlocks. Yesterday, services continued to be down.