The Taliban’s state capture of Afghanistan in 2021 has been catastrophic for the Afghan people. Women and girls have been relentlessly targeted and oppressed. Freedom of movement, employment, education, information, and expression are essentially outlawed for most female Afghans.
But amid the Taliban’s attempt to erase their existence and connection to public life, internet access endured as a lifeline of resilience and resistance.
Now this too has come under attack as the Taliban viciously cut fiber-optic and mobile internet access for provinces across the country.
Though service, for the time being, has recently been restored in various capacities, the Taliban’s actions over the last two weeks yet again demonstrate their enduring assault on personal freedoms and the fragility of information access for most Afghans.
The Bush Institute recently spoke with Afghan advocates leading economic and education programs for women and children in country to share their perspective and why the internet shutdown matters for Afghans and the global community at large:
Roya Mahboob, CEO, Digital Citizen Fund
Our students, from schoolchildren and journalists to entrepreneurs and robotics teams, have lost their chance to study, work, and create. The Taliban’s internet ban is not about technology; it is about control. They want to turn Afghanistan into another North Korea.
It feels like being pushed back into 1996, when the country was covered in darkness. Back then, the Taliban erased women from public life, silenced their voices, and cut them off from schools and opportunities. They understood that when people cannot learn or connect, it is easier to keep them powerless. Today’s ban follows the same strategy.
For Afghan women, the internet is not a luxury. It is our classroom, our library, our space to speak freely, and our bridge to dignity. Through it, girls gain skills, connect with teachers, and access financial tools to support their families. Taking it away is like erasing us again, forcing us back into silence.
At the Digital Citizen Fund alone, more than 500 current students who depended on online education are devastated. They will lose not only lessons but also hope. This is not just about cutting connections; it is about cutting futures.
The world must not look away. The internet ban is a deliberate act to keep Afghans in ignorance and fear. Knowledge is light, and it is exactly what extremists fear most.
Mozhgan Wafiq Alokozai, Founder and CEO, Eagle Online Academy
The internet ban in Afghanistan is a devastating blow to women and vulnerable communities, disrupting education, economic independence, mental health, and societal stability. For Afghan girls, already barred from formal schooling beyond sixth grade since 2021, online platforms like Eagle Online Academy – serving 1,400 students, 60% of whom are in Afghanistan – were a lifeline. The ban cuts off access to knowledge, critical thinking, and credible media, increasing susceptibility to extremist propaganda.
Economically, the ban erodes women’s financial agency. Online work like freelancing, tutoring, and content creation were often their only income source. Eagle Online Academy’s tutoring program enabled Afghan women to teach diaspora students, supporting their families. With slow mobile data and restricted Wi-Fi, these opportunities vanish, deepening poverty and dependence.
The psychological toll is severe. The ban triggers trauma reminiscent of past education restrictions — compounding fear, anxiety, and isolation. Ethnic minorities and marginalized groups lose access to online safe spaces for advocacy and support, leaving them more exposed to persecution.
On a broader scale, the ban destabilizes essential systems. Disrupted banking and remittance services affect 40% of households, worsening food insecurity. Telecom downsizing leads to job losses, including for women, and stifles infrastructure growth. The absence of independent media allows extremist narratives to dominate.
Ultimately, the ban consolidates Taliban control by silencing dissent, severing global ties, and restricting access to education and opportunity. It is not just a technical issue – it is a calculated act of oppression that threatens Afghanistan’s future, especially for its women and marginalized communities.
Manizha Wafeq, Entrepreneur and Founder and CEO, Global Women’s Trade Caravan
Wi-Fi is a lifeline for Afghan women across all sectors, especially entrepreneurs who rely on it daily to attend virtual training sessions, mentorship events, and networking gatherings, while also promoting their products through social media and online shops. Losing Wi-Fi access forces reliance on costly mobile data, slowing productivity and limiting their ability to stay connected to markets and the world. This is yet another layer and level of the extremist Taliban’s control over Afghans’ lives – an unacceptable restriction that the global community must urgently challenge.
Women and girls are crying again over this situation, and they are begging us to do something, and I feel so useless.
