Afghans poured into the streets to celebrate the return of internet and telecom services after the Taliban government ended a two-day shutdown. The internet restoration captured the relief felt across Kabul and other provinces, where people immediately reconnected with family, friends, and business networks.
Connectivity Resumes Across Provinces
Local journalists confirmed that services returned on Wednesday. Netblocks, a global internet monitor, reported a “partial restoration” across Afghanistan. A government source told BBC Afghan that the Taliban prime minister personally ordered the restoration.
The blackout, which lasted 48 hours, disrupted business operations, delayed flights, and blocked access to emergency services. It also deepened fears that the Taliban might further isolate women and girls, whose rights have been heavily curtailed since 2021.
Public Joy in Kabul
Kabul residents described widespread relief as phones came back online. “Everyone is happy, holding their cell phones and talking to their relatives,” one man told BBC Afghan. “From women to men and even Talibs, each was talking on phones after services were restored. There are more crowds now in the city.”
Images from Kabul showed people in markets smiling, calling relatives, and even celebrating in the streets. For many Afghans, being able to connect again represented a rare moment of joy amid years of political and economic turmoil.
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Taliban Confirms Services Back
Suhail Shaheen, a senior Taliban spokesman based in Qatar, announced on Wednesday afternoon that “all communications” were restored. The Taliban government, however, did not issue an official explanation for why the blackout was imposed in the first place.
In recent weeks, provincial authorities had hinted at restrictions. A spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Balkh province previously said internet access was being blocked “for the prevention of vices.”
Impact on Daily Life
The blackout highlighted Afghanistan’s growing dependence on digital access. Businesses struggled to complete transactions. Airlines faced delays due to a lack of online systems. Citizens could not call ambulances or contact doctors.
For Afghan women, the shutdown was especially devastating. With education banned for girls over 12 and most professional opportunities restricted, the internet has become their only lifeline to learning, communication, and the outside world.
Women Face Growing Restrictions
Since seizing power again in 2021, the Taliban have steadily imposed stricter rules based on their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. Afghan women report that access to the internet allows them to continue studying online, maintain contact with relatives abroad, and participate in underground educational initiatives.
In September, the Taliban escalated restrictions by removing books written by women from universities. For many Afghan women, this digital lifeline is the last connection to education and self-expression.
Global Response
The blackout drew swift international condemnation. The United Nations warned that Afghanistan had been “almost completely cut off from the outside world” during the shutdown. Officials said the blackout risked “inflicting significant harm on the Afghan people, including by threatening economic stability and exacerbating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.”
Aid groups also expressed concern. Many rely on phone and internet access to coordinate food, healthcare, and humanitarian assistance. Without connectivity, their ability to respond to urgent needs was severely compromised.
A Moment of Relief
For now, Afghans are celebrating what they hope will be a lasting return of services. Markets in Kabul grew busier as people used phones again to reconnect with loved ones. Taxi drivers reported an uptick in calls for rides. Families began reaching out to relatives abroad to confirm their safety.
The sudden return of the internet offered a brief sense of normalcy. Yet uncertainty remains over whether future blackouts could strike again. For Afghans, especially women and young people, reliable internet is more than convenience—it is their connection to the wider world and a symbol of hope for freedoms they continue to fight for.
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