KABUL — A wave of relief swept through Afghanistan as mobile and internet services were restored Wednesday evening, ending a 48-hour nationwide blackout that had paralyzed daily life and commerce.
The sudden restoration transformed city streets that had stood eerily quiet during the outage. Within minutes of service returning, Kabul’s thoroughfares filled with residents checking devices and reconnecting with loved ones. The familiar sounds of traffic and commerce returned as shops reopened and restaurants filled with customers.
“These past two days felt like living in another era,” said Mohammad Rafi, who operates a mobile phone store. “We were contemplating how to send messages without any digital means. The silence in the streets was unusual for working days, but tonight the city has come alive again.”
The telecommunications shutdown had left many unable to work. Delivery driver Sohrab Ahmadi described being unable to access the applications essential to his livelihood. “I’ve been stationary for two days with no way to contact customers or receive orders,” he explained. “Now the delivery bikes are lining up again, and the city feels like it’s celebrating a major holiday.”
The return of connectivity brought particular relief to women and girls, who have seen their educational opportunities severely restricted under the current administration. One female student, speaking on condition of anonymity, described online learning as “the only remaining path to education for many Afghan girls.”
Economic analysts noted the severe impact of the outage on a nation where digital connectivity has become integral to commerce, even in rural areas. Small business owners reported significant losses during the blackout period.
The suspension of services followed recent government statements about plans to restrict high-speed internet in some regions, though no official explanation was provided for the nationwide shutdown. Previous communications from provincial authorities had referenced measures to address what they termed “immoral activities.”
As connectivity resumed, merchants reported surges in customers purchasing mobile credit and accessing digital services. “The modern world runs on internet connectivity,” observed one telecommunications vendor. “This isn’t the Afghanistan of decades past. The restoration benefits everyone, including those in authority.”
