Afghanistan is facing a new phase of isolation under Taliban rule, as in recent weeks the regime has imposed severe restrictions on Internet access across the country. The measure, considered one of the most drastic since the group’s return to power, has profoundly limited the daily lives of millions of Afghans, affecting not only communication with the outside world but also access to education, information, and basic services. Reports from local and international observers indicate that Internet shutdowns now cover almost the entire country.
Alarmingly, the blackout appears to be particularly aimed at women and girls, who, after the closure of universities and secondary schools, had increasingly turned to online learning as their only educational alternative. Now, with the new restrictions, that lifeline has also been cut off. According to Afghan channel Tolonews, wired Internet service is largely blocked nationwide. However, the problem goes beyond cable networks: Netblocks, an organization known for its global monitoring of Internet disruptions, reported a “complete Internet shutdown” in Afghanistan.
This situation has been corroborated by the German Press Agency, which has also been unable to establish contact with residents or authorities, either through mobile phones or Internet-based calls. The current blackout has its roots in early September, when restrictions were already being reported in several northern provinces. In the province of Balkh, a government spokesperson confirmed that the barriers had been ordered directly by Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada.
The justification given was the need to prevent “immorality,” a vague term which, under the regime’s interpretation, has often translated into severe measures against individual freedoms. The harshest consequences fall on Afghan women and girls. After the closure of formal education centers for them, online learning had become a vital space for resistance and hope. With the latest shutdowns, that possibility has also been eliminated, leaving thousands facing an even more uncertain future.
Organizations such as Netblocks have warned that the situation may worsen, as further connectivity restrictions specifically targeting women are expected. This development demonstrates how the Taliban continue to use technological control as a tool to impose restrictive social order and deliberately marginalize the female population, undermining their opportunities for education, employment, and communication with the outside world.
