Afghanistan restores internet after 72-hour nationwide blackout

Internet and telecom services in Afghanistan were restored on Wednesday following a 72-hour nationwide blackout, though users reported slow speeds, technical restrictions, and concerns over potential future disruptions, Tolo News reported.

The blackout, ordered by senior leadership on Monday evening, disrupted daily life across the country. Schools, offices, businesses, banking systems, customs offices, money exchanges, and airports were heavily affected. Flights in and out of Kabul were suspended, and trade slowed significantly.

Residents in Herat, Kandahar, and Kabul confirmed that fibre optic and mobile networks were back online, but access remained limited. Social media platforms and news websites were accessible again, but unstable connections continued to hamper online activities.

Civil society activists emphasized the fragility of Afghanistan’s communications infrastructure and urged authorities to treat internet access as a basic right, warning against abrupt nationwide suspensions. The United Nations and human rights groups also expressed concern, highlighting that prolonged blackouts isolate communities, disrupt humanitarian aid, and threaten the country’s fragile social and economic conditions.

While services have resumed, many Afghans expressed cautious relief and stressed the need for stable, uninterrupted internet to protect education, business, and livelihoods.