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Afghans left ‘Out of Reach’ during nationwide telecoms shutdown: UNAMA report

The report, based on interviews with 111 people across 32 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, documents the human cost of the outage.

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A UN report has revealed the severe consequences of the recent two-day nationwide telecommunications shutdown in Afghanistan, highlighting widespread disruption to healthcare, banking, businesses, and daily life.

The 48-hour blackout, which took place from September 29 to October 1, left millions of Afghans without access to mobile phone services or the internet.

According to the report, “Out of Reach: The Impact of Telecommunications Shutdowns on the Afghan People,” published by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the shutdown exacerbated existing restrictions on women and girls, interrupted humanitarian operations, and created life-threatening delays in medical care.

The report, based on interviews with 111 people across 32 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, documents the human cost of the outage.

Healthcare workers reported preventable deaths due to delayed emergency responses and disrupted supply chains. One nurse in Laghman province recounted how a pregnant woman’s baby died after critical medical care could not be coordinated without phone or internet access. Doctors in Badghis and Zabul provinces described child deaths from malnutrition and lack of timely blood donations, respectively, citing the blackout as a key factor.

Women, particularly those working outside their homes, faced heightened restrictions. Many could not contact their male guardians, or mahrams, for necessary travel, jeopardizing their safety and livelihoods. Female entrepreneurs and students who rely on online platforms for business or education were forced to suspend operations, with one student describing the blackout as “an unbearable period of our life.”

The shutdown also disrupted Afghanistan’s banking sector, halting domestic and international transfers, blocking salaries, and leaving many unable to pay for essential goods or medical treatment. Small businesses, from farmers to online retailers, reported severe losses, and hotels and restaurants saw a complete drop in customers during the outage.

Humanitarian operations were similarly affected. Aid organizations responding to recent earthquakes and the return of deportees from neighboring countries faced delays in cash distribution, biometric registration, and coordination with field teams. In some cases, elderly returnees died due to delays at border crossings caused by the inability to access electronic systems.

The report also highlights the impact on media and freedom of expression. Journalists were unable to gather or transmit information, leading to an information vacuum filled by rumors and heightened fear among communities.

UNAMA warns that Afghanistan’s heavy reliance on telecommunications makes such shutdowns particularly harmful. “Afghans, already facing significant challenges in their daily lives, should not be subjected to imposed telecommunications cuts which negatively impact their daily lives and ability to exercise their basic human rights,” the report concluded.

The government has offered no official explanation for the shutdown. Some officials have denied it was due to infrastructure repairs, while public statements have been inconsistent or absent.

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Muttaqi and Iranian representative discuss expansion of bilateral relations

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Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met on Wednesday with Mohammad Reza Bahrami, a representative of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the eighth meeting of the Moscow Format and discussed ways to expand bilateral relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two sides exchanged views on Afghanistan-Iran relations, regional developments, and ways to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Muttaqi expressed appreciation for Iran’s engagement with Afghanistan and its constructive participation in regional meetings, emphasizing the need to further expand relations between Kabul and Tehran.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Reza Bahrami stressed the importance of relations between the two countries and shared Iran’s views on regional cooperation, stability, and expanding economic engagement between Afghanistan and Iran.

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British special forces could face prosecution over alleged Afghanistan crimes

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The UK Ministry of Defence identified material suggesting that British service personnel may have committed “serious offences” in Afghanistan, including possible murder, manslaughter and grievous bodily harm, a High Court hearing in London was told.

The information was referred by UK Special Forces (UKSF) to the Defence Serious Crime Command earlier this year, The Independent reported.

According to the court, any criminal investigation into the allegations has been paused pending the outcome of the Afghanistan Inquiry.

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, is examining allegations that UK special forces unlawfully killed people during operations in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013, as well as claims of a subsequent cover-up.

It is also investigating allegations of inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police.

The latest court proceedings relate to a senior British soldier, identified only as Witness IIA126, who is challenging the inquiry’s decision to restrict his and his lawyers’ access to certain evidence.

His lawyer, Kate Grange KC, argued that the restrictions had prevented the soldier from reviewing evidence concerning an allegation that a person was shot in the head while possibly asleep during a “deliberate detention operation.”

The inquiry is opposing the legal challenge, arguing that the restrictions were necessary to protect the identities of witnesses whose evidence was considered highly sensitive.

Jonathan Glasson KC, representing the inquiry, told the court that the discovery of material potentially indicating serious offences did not mean that any particular individual would necessarily face criminal charges.

The inquiry is expected to continue its examination of the allegations, with a written judgment on the latest legal challenge due at a later date.

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Afghan agriculture minister in Tashkent for international forum

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Afghanistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Attaullah Omari, has arrived in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, to attend an international forum on food security and sustainable development.

Omari is visiting Tashkent at the invitation of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and is scheduled to participate in the Global Technical Forum for Landlocked Countries on Food Security and Sustainable Development Goals, being held from October 7 to 8.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture said the visit will provide an opportunity to discuss expanding bilateral and regional cooperation with Uzbekistan in agriculture, irrigation, livestock, trade and investment.

The Afghan delegation is also expected to meet officials and representatives from participating countries to discuss agricultural exports, trade, investment opportunities, and the exchange of technical knowledge and expertise.

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