Internet Shutdown in Afghanistan Sparks Global Concern, Warns Hanif Atmar

DID Press: Taliban government’s suspension of internet, phone, and communication services in Afghanistan has triggered widespread national and international concern. Hanif Atmar, Foreign Minister of the former Afghan Republic, called the move a catastrophe alongside the regime’s anti-women policies and severe social restrictions, while international officials have urged the restoration of communications.

The Taliban has cut off access to internet and telecommunications for nearly two days. According to Atmar, the decision has broad repercussions for Afghan citizens both inside the country and abroad.

Criticizing the move, Atmar said, “This action deprives children and youth of contemporary education and disrupts multiple aspects of daily life. Soon, people and governments around the world will see this regime as unacceptable in today’s civilized world.”

International reactions include concerns voiced by Richard Lindsey, the U.K.’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, who warned that the suspension of internet services and international flights has serious, damaging consequences for Afghan citizens. He called on the Taliban government to restore internet and telecommunications nationwide.

Meanwhile, Aimal Wali Khan, leader of Pakistan’s Awami National Party and a member of the Senate, urged the Taliban to lift the internet ban and restore other freedoms, stressing that in today’s world, the internet is essential for education, commerce, and daily life. He also highlighted the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education and women’s employment, calling it a grave injustice against half of Afghanistan’s population.

The Taliban has not responded to these criticisms but previously justified the fiber-optic internet shutdown as a measure to “prevent immoral content.” The move has once again drawn global attention to human rights and social restrictions in Afghanistan.