Confusion over Afghan internet outage after purported Taliban statement revealed as false

ISLAMABAD — There is uncertainty surrounding the current status of internet connectivity in Afghanistan, as some networks were reportedly restored on Wednesday after experiencing an outage that started on Monday.

Initial reports from The Associated Press claimed that the Taliban denied allegations that the blackout was intentional, attributing it to the replacement of old fiber optic cables due to wear and tear.

However, it was later revealed that the statement from the Taliban was false.

The misinformation was circulated through a WhatsApp group used by the Taliban to communicate with Pakistani journalists. The sender, who has since disappeared, posed as an Afghan user with a name similar to that of the official media group.

The same false statement was also shared on social media platform X by a Taliban sympathizer, not directly from the Taliban.

Due to the internet blackout in Afghanistan, The Associated Press was unable to contact the Taliban spokesperson for clarification on the status of the fiber optic cable repair.

Several hours after the dissemination of the false statement, the Taliban WhatsApp group issued their first official response, confirming the gradual restoration of cell phone services. The authenticity of this new statement was verified by The Associated Press.

According to telecommunications technical department officials quoted in the statement, efforts are ongoing to fully restore the services.

Internet advocacy group Netblocks provided an update on X, indicating the partial restoration of internet connectivity in Afghanistan amidst concerns over the telecom blackout and the Taliban’s imposition of new regulations on telco operators.

The outage, which affected internet and telephone services nationwide, disrupted various sectors including banking, commerce, and aviation.

Local airline Kam Air announced plans to resume flights to Kabul following a temporary suspension of operations due to the outage.

Humanitarian organizations highlighted the challenges posed by the blackout, emphasizing the need for restored communications to facilitate their assistance efforts.

“Effective communication is crucial for our operations, delivery of life-saving aid, and collaboration with partners,” stated Save the Children on Wednesday.

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CORRECTION: This article replaces a previous version published on Oct. 1, 2025, to clarify that the Taliban did not issue a statement denying responsibility for the blackout and attributing it to the replacement of old fiber optic cables.