Afghanistan reels from 48-hour nationwide internet blackout

Afghanistan ground to a halt for two days after Taliban authorities cut off internet and phone services nationwide, upending daily life and fueling uncertainty across the country. The shutdown followed weeks of tightened broadband curbs in several provinces but few in Kabul expected a blanket suspension that severed communications altogether. Residents scrambled for connectivity, climbing hills, swapping SIMs and even traveling towards Iranian and Pakistani border towns to catch a signal. With no digital lifelines, families could neither send nor receive remittances, while rumors flourished in the vacuum — from talk of a US return to Bagram to speculation about leadership changes — as officials remained silent. Banks and hawala networks stalled, leaving people to survive on cash in hand. In cities, security personnel reverted to walkie-talkies. Flights were grounded yet passengers still arrived at airports, unaware of cancellations. Hospital emergency rooms were unusually quiet as many avoided travel; a leading neurologist reported a sharp drop in visits with online appointments disrupted. The blackout set back education, with the Malala Fund estimating millions of women and girls lost access to remote classes. Students described fear that studies would again be derailed. Businesses from restaurants to courier firms reported heavy financial losses, and wedding halls struggled to confirm guests or schedules until services were restored. Connectivity eventually returned after 48 hours, but the episode underscored the fragility of Afghanistan’s digital infrastructure and the way a nationwide shutdown can cascade through banking, healthcare, aviation and everyday life.