Internet and telephone services were completely disrupted in Afghanistan as of the evening of September 29. These disruptions appear similar to intentional disconnections from the global network.
Simultaneously, according to available information, a number of Taliban officials were able to access the internet through the Starlink satellite network. Most Taliban ministry websites remain inaccessible due to the network outages.
In recent weeks, the Taliban has explicitly announced internet shutdowns in several Afghan provinces to combat what they call “immorality.” For example, on September 17, internet access was cut off in at least four of the country’s 34 provinces. Unofficial reports indicate disconnections occurred in three additional provinces.
