Afghanistan's Internet Blackout: UN Urges Taliban to Restore Access
Afghanistan has been grappling with a severe internet speed test blackout since Monday, with the United Nations and international organizations expressing concern. The Taliban, in their first public statement since the crisis, have attributed the issue to infrastructure upgrades, but the UN has urged them to restore access immediately.
The blackout, announced by internet watchdog NetBlocks, has left millions of Afghans both within and outside the country unable to communicate. It has also disrupted essential services, including banking, travel, businesses, and aid operations. Flights out of Afghanistan have been canceled, further isolating the nation.
The Taliban, in their statement, claimed that old fiber optic cables were being replaced, causing the outage. However, NetBlocks reported on Tuesday, March 16, 2023, that the outage was partial and showed characteristics of an intentional test blockage by the Taliban. The organization also noted that transportation with neighboring Pakistan has been suspended due to the internet outage.
The blackout has exacerbated Afghanistan's ongoing economic and humanitarian crises. The UN's call for immediate restoration of internet and telecommunications access underscores the global community's concern for the Afghan people's welfare and the country's stability.
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