Afghanistan's internet partially restored after two-day blackout

Afghanistan experienced a significant disruption in internet services, characterized by a nationwide telecom blackout that lasted for two days. This outage, reported on September 29, 2025, affected internet and mobile access across many regions, including the capital, Kabul. The incident has raised serious concerns among the Afghan population, particularly for educators and students reliant on the internet for educational resources. Zahra, a teacher who conducts secret coding classes for girls, expressed her fear and confusion during the blackout, revealing that the restrictions were part of new rules enforced by the Taliban government, which included a ban on fiber-optic internet in specific provinces. The interruptions were not isolated events; according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), such disruptions had been occurring since September 16, 2025, indicating a broader trend of limiting connectivity in the country. The Taliban's actions were interpreted as a means to control the flow of information and restrict freedoms under their governance. The United Nations warned that the December blackout posed additional constraints on access to information, and the continuity of education was threatened, especially for girls whose educational opportunities had already been curtailed under Taliban policies. The gradual onset of internet access problems began with Wi-Fi outages in recent weeks leading up to the blackout. Reports suggested that the Taliban were applying these new