Afghanistan's Nationwide Internet Shutdown Leaves 48 Million Offline
A nationwide internet shutdown in Afghanistan has left 48 million people offline, causing widespread disruption and economic losses. The move, ordered by the Taliban's supreme leader to prevent 'vice', has affected everything from online education and businesses to communication with relatives abroad.
The shutdown, which began in late December, has caused chaos. Weddings have become an 'unmanageable situation' as guests couldn't be contacted or confirmed. Businesses, including restaurants, post offices, travel agencies, and shops, have suffered heavy economic losses. Domestic and international flights were grounded, but passengers continued to flock to airports without warning.
Afghan women's online courses, which reached approximately two million students, were disrupted. Afghans were unable to send news to relatives or receive remittances from abroad. Residents of Herat and Kandahar traveled to border towns to pick up signal from neighboring countries. Meanwhile, rumors spread due to lack of news from the outside world, including about a potential US military action and leadership changes within the Taliban.
The internet shutdown has highlighted the dependence of Afghans on digital connectivity for daily life and commerce. While the Taliban's de facto government maintains technical contacts with other countries for specific purposes, it is not recognized as politically legitimate by many nations. The impact of the shutdown on the Afghan people remains to be seen, but it has already caused significant disruption and economic hardship.
