The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has implemented a sweeping nationwide shutdown of telecommunications, plunging the country into a total internet blackout. This drastic measure follows weeks of the group severing fiber-optic internet connections, citing concerns over ‘immorality.’ According to internet watchdog Netblocks, the blackout has disrupted mobile phone services, satellite TV, and mobile internet across the country. The international news agency AFP reported losing contact with its Kabul office, while residents in the capital confirmed the abrupt halt of fiber-optic internet services around 17:00 local time (12:30 GMT). The impact is expected to be felt more acutely on Tuesday morning, when banking and business operations resume. Fiber-optic cables, which enable high-speed data transfer, are a critical component of global internet infrastructure. Netblocks, in a post on Mastodon.social, described the blackout as a stepwise disconnection of multiple networks, with telephone services also affected. The Taliban had previously hinted at creating an alternative internet route but provided no specifics. Business leaders have warned of severe economic repercussions if the ban persists. Hamid Haidari, former editor-in-chief of Afghan news channel 1TV, lamented the isolation, stating that Afghanistan has now surpassed North Korea in internet disconnection. This blackout is the latest in a series of restrictive measures imposed by the Taliban since their return to power in 2021, including banning books by women from university curricula, outlawing human rights education, and restricting women’s access to education beyond the age of 12. The Taliban’s hardline interpretation of Islamic Sharia law continues to reshape Afghan society, with women and girls bearing the brunt of these policies.