For 48 hours Afghanistan had been cut off from mobile and internet services in a Taliban-imposed shutdown
Just before nightfall on Wednesday, the near-deserted streets of Afghanistan’s capital suddenly filled with people – mobile phones everywhere had pinged back to life.
With phones pressed to their ears or tightly gripped in their hands, Afghans poured on to the streets of Kabul to check if others were also online.
“Congratulations, the internet is back!” a shopkeeper shouted, as drivers honked in response. Children were handed balloons, parents bought sweets and friends gathered in restaurants – all while chatting animatedly on their phones.
For 48 hours, Afghans had been offline, cut off from mobile and internet services, in a telecommunications shutdown imposed by authorities without warning.
