Afghanistan's main airport is at a standstill as the country grapples with the fallout of a nationwide internet shutdown imposed by the Taliban government.
The Taliban has yet to provide an official reason for the decision, which commenced on Monday, but indicated that it would remain in effect until further notice. The UN warned that the shutdown could inflict significant harm.
Critical communication both within Afghanistan and towards the outside world has been massively disrupted, along with essential services including banking and access to online education, which is vital for many women and girls.
Kabul airport has reportedly become nearly deserted, with no visible flights arriving or departing. The flight tracking service Flightradar24 noted that numerous flights on Tuesday were cancelled, with many more statuses classified as unknown. One passenger was informed that flights might not resume until Thursday at the earliest.
Life in Kabul appears to continue as normal to some extent, but individuals reported a total lack of communication across the country. The UN mission has urged the Taliban to immediately restore full internet access, emphasizing that the cutoff threatens economic stability and exacerbates one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.
The Taliban government has been systematically severing fibre-optic connections across several provinces for weeks, with Kabul being affected just last week. Residents expressed feelings of being left blind without telecommunications.
Moreover, the internet cuts have created widespread complications for students reliant on online classes and for businesses that depend on mobile communication.
As Afghanistan enters a critical period under Taliban rule, further restrictions are anticipated, including bans on specific educational content and an overall tightening of access to digital resources.
