Nabil Warns: Internet Blackout a Tool for Taliban Power Consolidation

DID Press: Former Afghan intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil has warned that the nationwide internet and telecom shutdown is not merely a technical issue but part of the Taliban’s broader strategy to suppress freedoms and entrench their control over the country.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Nabil stated: “Silencing the people is a permanent and calculated tactic by the Taliban to maintain their rule.” He argued that when religion and ideology become tools of domination, the systematic suppression of freedoms becomes a normalized mechanism for securing power.

The remarks follow the Taliban’s abrupt suspension of all internet and mobile services across Afghanistan — a move that has crippled media outlets, disrupted digital communication, and severely limited access to both domestic and international networks.

Experts say the blackout has had far-reaching consequences for Afghan society and the economy. Digital businesses, online education platforms, and media organizations have been paralyzed. Human rights activists have raised alarm over the isolation of women and girls, many of whom relied on online education as their only means of learning due to existing restrictions.

While the Taliban have yet to issue an official explanation, reports suggest the order came directly from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, purportedly to “prevent the spread of immoral content.”

However, many Afghan citizens have rejected this justification, describing the blackout as “cutting the lifeline connecting Afghan society to the world.” There is growing concern that the Taliban may be seeking to establish a “national intranet” — effectively severing Afghanistan from the global internet and tightening their grip on information flow.

Observers warn such a move would further erode civil liberties and deepen the country’s isolation.