Taliban Enforces Five New Nationwide Bans This Year

The UN agency warned that the shutdown has cut the country off from the world and threatens to deepen an already dire humanitarian crisis.

In a statement, UNAMA said the blackout risks causing serious harm to the Afghan people, destabilising the economy, and worsening one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.

The mission warned of wide-ranging consequences, including disruption to banking and financial systems, restrictions on women’s and girls’ access to health care and education, difficulties in sending remittances, damage to the aviation sector, and limited access to emergency services. It also said the move has severely curtailed freedom of expression and access to information.

UNAMA noted that the shutdown comes as Afghanistan faces major earthquakes in the east, with women and girls making up more than half of the casualties, and amid the mass forced return of refugees from neighbouring countries. Cutting off communications in such circumstances, it said, endangers lives.

The mission added that it remains in contact with Taliban officials, under its UN Security Council mandate, to support the people of Afghanistan.

The sources, connected via Starlink satellite internet, said Akhundzada remains opposed to restoring internet access, despite the mounting impact of the shutdown.

Haqqani, described as deeply unhappy with the decision, reportedly voiced his objections during the meeting, warning of the severe consequences of cutting off internet and telecommunications nationwide.

He had travelled to Kandahar on Friday in an attempt to persuade Akhundzada to reconsider the controversial move.

The Taliban’s suspension of fibre-optic internet and telecom services since Monday evening has paralysed daily life and essential services across Afghanistan, prompting widespread criticism at home and abroad.

Local officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said the closure was prompted by administrative disruptions on the Afghan side.

A provincial official told Pakistani outlets that the lack of internet prevented Afghan border authorities from carrying out normal procedures, forcing the temporary closure.

Local media also reported that several travellers who had entered Afghanistan were turned back into Pakistan by Taliban officials after border systems went offline.

From 5 p.m. on 29 September, fibre-optic services were cut nationwide, followed by a complete shutdown of all telecommunications, including regular phone calls.

Those able to contact Afghanistan International said no form of communication is currently functioning inside the country, leaving people in confusion and uncertainty.

Sources within the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications and the Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) said the shutdown was carried out under a direct order from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

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.