Taliban Extends Afghanistan Internet Shutdown ‘Until Further Notice’
A foreign diplomat in Kabul said the Taliban has informed them that Afghanistan’s internet shutdown will remain in place “until further notice.”
The diplomat, who spoke to The Washington Post on condition of anonymity, said the Taliban abruptly cut internet access without official warning at around 5 p.m. local time on Monday.
The blackout has also disrupted phone services, according to NetBlocks, a global internet observatory. In countries with limited telecom infrastructure, phone networks are often routed through fibre-optic systems, which have now been disabled. Afghans abroad have reported being unable to reach their families inside the country.
Air travel has been affected as well. All Ariana Afghan Airlines flights to and from Afghanistan have been suspended, leaving dozens of passengers stranded. Two sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that Ariana flights were delayed, though it remains unclear how the issue will be resolved.
Separately, Kam Air flights to Istanbul, Türkiye, were cancelled. Reports suggest the airlines had scheduled departures without being informed by the Taliban of the nationwide internet shutdown.
