Kabul, Oct. 1 (Reuters) — At least 14 flights scheduled to depart Kabul airport on Wednesday were cancelled, while the status of many others remained unclear after Afghanistan experienced a nationwide internet shutdown.
Flights Canceled Amid Connectivity Crisis
According to flight-tracking service Flightradar24:
- Out of 34 scheduled flights in and out of Kabul on Wednesday, 4 departures and 10 arrivals were canceled.
- On Tuesday, 10 out of 31 scheduled flights were canceled, while 21 others were marked as “unknown.”
- Flights at other provincial airports, including Herat and Kandahar, were also listed as “unknown.”
The cancellations left many passengers stranded in Afghanistan and disrupted both domestic and international travel.
Taliban Order Behind the Blackout
The disruptions follow a directive from the Taliban administration, which ordered a shutdown of both internet and cell phone services starting Monday.
- The blackout has affected banks, aid organizations, businesses, and Afghans’ ability to communicate with family.
- The Taliban has not offered an official explanation, and Reuters was unable to reach officials for comment.
- The United Nations has called for connectivity services to be restored.
In recent weeks, authorities have also cut fiber-optic links to several provinces, citing “morality concerns,” including worries about online pornography.
Airlines Struggle to Operate
Mohammad Bashir, a representative of Kam Air, Afghanistan’s largest private airline, told Tolo News that the blackout had nearly shut down operations:
“Before a plane takes off, we must share flight information online with the destination airport, which is not possible now.”
He added that only one Kam Air flight had operated since the shutdown began, expressing hope that services could resume quickly:
“This is important for our fellow citizens who had transit flights and for those stranded trying to return. We must restart operations for their sake.”
Wider Impact on Daily Life
The connectivity blackout has compounded the difficulties faced by Afghans under Taliban rule:
- Families have been unable to connect with loved ones abroad.
- Humanitarian aid coordination has been disrupted.
- Businesses and banks have struggled to operate without internet access.
Bottom Line
The Taliban’s internet shutdown has triggered a new wave of chaos, halting air travel, isolating citizens from the outside world, and deepening Afghanistan’s economic and humanitarian crisis.
