Over the past several years, Afghanistan has faced many challenges, but few decisions carry such immediate and devastating consequences as a nationwide internet shutdown. Recently, the Taliban’s decision to cut off internet access has created an unprecedented barrier for millions of Afghans—particularly women and the younger generation—who relied on connectivity as their only bridge to education, opportunity, and the wider world.
At Afghan Geeks, we believe the internet is not just a tool of technology—it is a lifeline of hope, growth, and progress. Its absence is already having visible effects on vulnerable communities.
Women: The First and Most Affected Group
Afghan women have long faced restrictions in accessing education and professional opportunities. For many, online learning was the only remaining pathway to develop skills and envision a future beyond imposed limitations.
The shutdown has now silenced that pathway.
Loss of Access to Education: Women who were learning coding, digital skills, or online training have been forced into sudden pause.
Isolation: Without connectivity, women lose the ability to connect with mentors, communities, and supportive networks beyond Afghanistan.
Shattered Hope: For young women especially, the internet represented freedom and possibility. Its absence reinforces feelings of exclusion and hopelessness.
As an organization dedicated to teaching Afghan women technology, Afghan Geeks has witnessed this impact firsthand. Our students and team members, who were making tangible progress in their skills, are now cut off from the very lifeline that made that growth possible.
The Younger Generation: Disconnected from the World
Beyond women, the broader Afghan youth—an entire generation—are being separated from the global community. With more than 60% of Afghanistan’s population under 25, the future of the nation lies in its youth. An internet shutdown creates:
A Knowledge Gap: Students can no longer access global resources, online courses, or updated knowledge.
Professional Setbacks: Young Afghans pursuing freelance or remote opportunities lose their income, stability, and visibility.
Cultural Isolation: In a connected world, being offline means being left behind. Afghan youth are now forcibly distanced from global conversations, ideas, and innovation.
This disconnection threatens to widen the gap between Afghanistan and the rest of the world, deepening isolation at a time when inclusion is most needed.
A Nation Cut Off
The shutdown is not only a barrier to individuals—it undermines Afghanistan’s ability to remain part of the global economy. In a time when technology enables cross-border collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation, cutting off internet access closes doors to business opportunities, partnerships, and economic growth.
Afghanistan risks being seen as an isolated nation, unable to contribute or compete in the digital age. For a country with such a young population, this has unprecedented long-term consequences.
Afghan Geeks’ Position
Afghan Geeks stands firm in its mission: to empower Afghan women through technology education and opportunities. We are not a political voice—we are a human voice, a professional community, and a bridge for those who deserve access to learning and growth.
This internet shutdown has interrupted our programs, but it has not ended our mission. We will continue to search for innovative solutions, alternative pathways, and supportive collaborations to ensure Afghan women and youth are not forgotten.
At our core, we believe:
Hope cannot be shut down.
Education must remain accessible.
Afghan women and youth deserve a future that connects them to the world.
A Call to Solidarity
We invite the global community, partners, and advocates to recognize the human cost of this shutdown. The loss is not only technological—it is social, economic, and deeply personal.
Stand with Afghan women. Stand with Afghanistan’s youth.
Together, we can ensure their voices are not silenced and their hope is not extinguished.
@Murtaza