AFGHANISTAN RESTORES INTERNET AFTER TWO DAYS OF DISRUPTION AND FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS. (PHOTO).

Afghanistan restores internet after two days of disruption and flight cancellations

Internet service in Afghanistan was restored on Wednesday following a two-day blackout that disrupted daily life, grounded flights, and paralyzed the economy. The outage halted transportation systems, banking services, and health care, while cell phone networks were also suspended, leaving residents largely cut off from communication.

The Taliban government, which seized control in 2021 after U.S. forces withdrew, has yet to provide a clear explanation for the outage. Afghan officials offered conflicting statements, with one spokesperson for the Ministry of Telecommunications saying the reason for the shutdown was still unknown. The blackout followed an earlier partial restriction ordered on September 16 in roughly half of the country, justified by a Taliban governor as a measure “for the prevention of vices.” Full mobile and Internet access was suspended on Monday. In Kabul, residents expressed relief at the restoration, with people across the city, including women and Taliban members, using their phones to reconnect with relatives.

For many Afghan women, the Internet serves as a vital lifeline, particularly after the Taliban banned girls over 12 from attending school and restricted women’s employment opportunities. The shutdown also created urgent crises, as in the case of Jawad Mohammadi, who traveled to Kabul from Mazar-i-Sharif to secure surgery for his brother. With banks closed, Mohammadi struggled to gather the required upfront payment for the procedure. “The hospital refuses to proceed with the operation unless we pay in advance. I have no other options and don’t know what to do,” he said, illustrating the severe consequences of the disruption.