The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The Taliban’s nationwide internet shutdown is a reckless move with far-reaching consequences for aid delivery, healthcare and other essential services, Amnesty International said Tuesday, urging authorities to restore access immediately.
“Communication and access to information are critical tools
for the protection and promotion of human rights,” said Smriti Singh, Amnesty’s
regional director for South Asia. “By tightening their chokehold on the flow of
information, the Taliban de facto authorities are making sure that the world
doesn’t get to know about the ongoing violations inside the country.”
The shutdown comes as Afghanistan faces overlapping
humanitarian crises affecting nearly half its population. Amnesty said cutting
off internet access further threatens stability while disproportionately
harming women and girls, who have already been banned from education beyond
primary school.
“With women and girls denied schooling, internet access is
critical for their education,” Singh said. “This shutdown disrupts their
ability to learn and cannot be justified under any circumstances.”
The Taliban imposed the blackout on Sept. 29, saying it was
meant to prevent “immoral acts” and the “misuse of the internet.” Both mobile
and fiber-optic services were suspended without a timeline for restoration.
Internet watchdog NetBlocks reported that Afghanistan’s
connectivity dropped to less than 1% of normal levels that day.
Amnesty said the sweeping measure violates international
human rights standards and urged the Taliban to immediately and fully restore
connectivity across the country.
