CCISSGO-24

TALIBAN'S INTERNET BAN IN AFGHANISTAN: A BLOW TO CONNECTIVITY AND FREEDOM IN THE DIGITAL AGE In a world where digital connectivity drives economic growth, education, and social interaction, Afghanistan finds itself at a critical crossroads. The Taliban authorities have recently ordered a shutdown of fiber-optic internet services in several provinces across northern Afghanistan, including Balkh, Baghlan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Takhar, and Nangarhar. While mobile internet remains available, the restriction on broadband fiber-optic access marks a significant step backward for a nation already grappling with humanitarian, economic, and social crises. The stated justification for the ban is to prevent “immoral activities” online, a phrase the Taliban leadership frequently uses when curtailing freedoms related to media, women’s rights, or technology. Yet beyond the surface reasoning, the decision carries far-reaching consequences for millions of Afghans, from students and entrep...