Internet Fiber Blockade Disrupts Life in Afghanistan

Internet Fiber Blockade Disrupts Life in Afghanistan

In recent months, Afghans have faced yet another crisis, one that is less visible than violence in the streets but just as damaging to daily life. The disruption and partial blockade of Afghanistan’s internet fiber network has cut off millions of people from reliable access to the digital world. This breakdown has affected businesses, education, healthcare, and communication, leaving many to feel isolated in an already fragile environment.

This report examines the causes, consequences, and reactions surrounding Afghanistan’s internet fiber blockade, and why it matters not only for Afghans but for the global community.

A Nation Offline

Afghanistan’s internet has long been fragile. Most of the country’s broadband and mobile services depend on imported fiber optic connections that pass through neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. With limited domestic infrastructure, Afghanistan relies heavily on these international routes to stay connected to the global web.

When fiber lines are cut, blocked, or slowed for political, technical, or financial reasons, the impact is immediate. Users experience blackouts lasting hours or even days, preventing access to basic online services. For people in Kabul and other major cities, a sudden “no signal” notification has become an all-too-familiar frustration.

Residents describe it as a form of digital suffocation.

“We feel trapped,” said Ahmad, a university student in Kabul. “My classes are online, and when the fiber is blocked, I cannot join. It feels like my future is being stolen.”

Why the Blockade Happened

The exact reasons behind Afghanistan’s internet fiber disruption are complex and often political. Experts point to several key factors:

Cross-Border Tensions – Fiber lines entering Afghanistan are controlled by foreign providers. Disputes over payments, security, or political disagreements can result in sudden restrictions.

Domestic Control – Authorities in Afghanistan have, at times, restricted internet access for political purposes, such as during protests, exams, or periods of unrest. Fiber disruptions may therefore serve as a tool of control.

Technical and Financial Issues – Maintaining and paying for international fiber capacity requires funds, coordination, and infrastructure security—resources Afghanistan often lacks.

Whatever the reasons, the end result is the same: ordinary Afghans are the ones who pay the price.

The Impact on Society

The blockade has affected nearly every sector of Afghan society.

Education: With many schools and universities moving lessons online, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, students now struggle to attend classes or access learning materials. A blackout of even a few hours can mean missing exams, deadlines, or entire lectures.

Business and Economy: Small businesses that rely on online platforms to trade, advertise, or receive payments have been crippled. Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and digital workers who once depended on global clients are left unable to send emails or join meetings.

Healthcare: Doctors and NGOs increasingly use online consultations and digital records. Internet blackouts delay urgent communication, medical advice, and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Daily Communication: Families separated by migration or displacement depend on WhatsApp, Messenger, and other platforms to stay in touch. Fiber blockades cut off this lifeline, leaving people in fear for the safety of loved ones.

Voices of Frustration

The public has expressed anger, despair, and helplessness over the recurring blackouts. Social media platforms light up with complaints the moment connections return, as Afghans vent about missed opportunities, lost income, and shattered plans.

Shabnam, a young entrepreneur in Herat, explained:

“I run an online clothing business. My customers are in Kabul and abroad. When the internet is blocked, I lose orders, I lose trust, and I lose money. It is killing our future.”

For many Afghans, reliable internet is not a luxury—it is a necessity for survival in an already harsh economic landscape.

The Global Dimension

Afghanistan’s internet fiber blockade also highlights broader global issues. In an interconnected world, digital isolation has become a form of modern disadvantage. The United Nations has repeatedly declared internet access a human right, essential for freedom of expression, development, and participation in the modern economy.

Yet in Afghanistan, a combination of politics, poverty, and neglect has left people cut off from this right. International observers warn that leaving Afghanistan digitally isolated could further marginalize its population and widen the gap between the country and the rest of the world.

Possible Solutions

Experts suggest several steps that could ease Afghanistan’s digital crisis:

Diversifying Fiber Routes: By building more connections through multiple neighboring countries, Afghanistan could reduce its dependency on any single route.

Investment in Domestic Infrastructure: Developing local fiber backbones and data centers could make the country less vulnerable to external disruptions.

International Cooperation: Regional agreements that treat internet access as a shared responsibility might prevent blockades caused by political or financial disputes.

Satellite Internet Alternatives: Emerging technologies like low-orbit satellite internet could provide a lifeline, bypassing the reliance on physical fiber cables.

Conclusion

The internet fiber blockade in Afghanistan is more than a technical problem—it is a human crisis. It isolates people, stifles economic growth, and erodes the fragile opportunities that remain in a country already facing poverty and conflict.

For Afghans, being cut off from the web is like being cut off from the world. Until lasting solutions are found, every blackout will continue to deepen the sense of isolation and despair.

As Roman raufi, the Kabul student, summed it up:

“Without internet, it feels like we don’t exist.”