KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Amnesty International has condemned the Taliban’s nationwide internet shutdown in Afghanistan, calling it a “reckless” move that is preventing the world from learning about ongoing human rights violations.
In a statement on Tuesday, Smriti Singh, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for South Asia, called on the Taliban to immediately restore internet access.
She said the shutdown will have “far-reaching consequences for delivery of aid, access to healthcare, and other essential services” amid multiple humanitarian crises affecting nearly half the population.
“Communication and access to information are critical tools for protecting and promoting human rights,” Singh said. “By controlling the flow of information, the Taliban are making sure the world does not see ongoing violations inside the country.”
Internet access is especially vital for women and girls, who remain barred from schools and universities. Singh added: “This shutdown disrupts their ability to learn and cannot be justified under any circumstances.”
The Taliban imposed a countrywide internet blackout on Monday, September 29, with both mobile and fibre-optic services suspended. No official explanation has been provided for the disruption.
Internet watchdog Netblocks reported less than 1% of normal activity on the first day of the blackout. The shutdown has also affected flights, banking, e-commerce, health services, online jobs, and schools.
Aid groups have expressed concern over the impact on vulnerable populations. Arafat Jamal, UN Refugee Agency representative in Afghanistan, said frontline aid workers, including those responding to last month’s earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, were now unreachable.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also urged the Taliban to restore full internet and telecommunications access, warning the blackout “risks inflicting significant harm on the Afghan people” by paralyzing banking systems, limiting emergency services, and further isolating women and girls.
