Afghan traders in Peshawar are facing significant challenges after the Taliban imposed a sweeping internet blackout in Afghanistan earlier this week. The shutdown, which has reduced internet connectivity to less than 1% of normal levels, is severely impacting businesses, communications, and family ties, according to traders in Pakistan’s northwestern city, Arab News reported.
The blackout, ordered by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, aims to combat what the authorities have described as “vice.” However, it has further strained conditions in a country already suffering from decades of conflict, a humanitarian crisis, and recent natural disasters.
Hajji Khan Muhammad, a kitchenware trader at Peshawar’s Board Bazaar, said the disruption has made it impossible to communicate with his Afghan customers, who require pictures of products before making purchases.
“Our customers don’t buy until we send them pictures,” he explained, adding that most businesses today are conducted online.
Other Afghan traders echoed similar concerns, noting the difficulties in collecting payments or maintaining contact with their families. “We can’t talk to our customers or communicate with each other to build relationships,” said Aslam, a trader who only provided his first name.
Abdullah Jan, another trader, highlighted the emotional toll the blackout has taken on families. “Everyone is upset. We have relatives—some are brothers, uncles, mothers, sisters. We were in contact with each other. Now, with the internet down, communication is also dead,” he said.
Traders also warned that the outage is worsening cross-border commerce. “We have businesses set up there, and people owe us money,” said Javed Khan, another trader. “We don’t have visas to go and get our money back from them.”
The United Nations has raised alarms about the humanitarian implications of the blackout, citing its “serious human rights ramifications.” Aid agencies have warned that the internet shutdown will limit access to online education programs for Afghan women, hinder remittances, and suppress media freedom.
Before the shutdown, approximately 13.2 million Afghans, or about 30% of the population, had internet access. This included over four million social media users, according to DataReportal. Afghanistan’s previous fiber optic network, touted as a potential tool for lifting the country out of poverty, is now virtually unusable for many.
