Afghanistan has experienced a complete internet blackout across the country.

Afghanistan has reported a complete internet outage across the country, according to the international internet monitoring service NetBlocks.

"Afghanistan is currently completely disconnected from the internet as the Taliban authorities take steps to enforce morality," the service stated in a Telegram post. According to NetBlocks, the country is also experiencing disruptions in telephone service.

This is the first such large-scale outage since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, the AP news agency notes.

Earlier, in mid-September, Taliban authorities shut down fiber-optic internet in the north of the country, including the provinces of Balkh, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Takhar, citing a "struggle for morality." Government institutions, private homes, and businesses were left without cable internet, though mobile internet continued to operate.

An Afghan government spokesman explained to reporters that the internet restrictions are intended to "prevent immorality," and that an alternative network will be created to meet the needs of the population.

Reuters reports that the internet shutdown affected not only the northern regions but also major cities across the country, significantly limiting citizens' access to information and communications services.

The country's complete isolation from the global network is causing concern among the international community, as it limits access to news, distance learning, and online services.