Afghanistan Ends 48-Hour Nationwide Internet Blackout

Afghanistan Ends 48-Hour Nationwide Internet Blackout
Above: A telecommunications antenna on a rooftop in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sept. 29, 2025. Image copyright: WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Government-critical narrative

The Taliban deliberately imposed a nationwide internet blackout to silence Afghan voices and cut off millions from the world. By crippling crucial communication networks, the Taliban did untold damage to the country’s already suffering economy, while exacerbating an already worsening humanitarian crisis and further isolating the country’s women and girls.

Pro-government narrative

The Taliban's internet shutdown was caused by worn-out fiber optic cables needing replacement, not censorship. In fact, the Afghan government is committed to improving the country’s internet access, as evinced by its commitment to installing 550 antennas in Afghanistan’s most deprived areas.

Metaculus Prediction


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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.16.0

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.16.0