Internet Blackout – News Analysis India

Tehran Threatens US and Israel as Iran Protests Rage On, Web Blackout Extended

News Analysis India — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Iran’s streets remain ablaze with fury as anti-regime demonstrations mark two weeks of relentless defiance. A suffocating internet blackout, lasting over 60 hours, amplifies the chaos by severing communication lines across the country. Tensions skyrocketed after U.S. President Donald Trump’s admonitions drew a fiery rebuttal from Tehran, placing Israel on heightened alert.

Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, a staunch conservative with presidential ambitions, unleashed a barrage of warnings during a raucous session. As deputies surged forward shouting anti-U.S. chants—aired live on national TV—he cautioned that any American strike would invite retaliation against U.S. troops and the Jewish state. His praise for police and Revolutionary Guards highlighted a zero-tolerance stance on the protests.

‘We will confront them with utmost severity and ensure justice for the detained,’ Ghalibaf proclaimed. Directly targeting Israel as ‘occupied lands,’ he outlined clear targets: every U.S. military installation, outpost, and vessel in the area.

The Times of Israel reports Israel bracing for contingencies amid fears of U.S. escalation in Iran’s turmoil. NetBlocks data reveals the internet clampdown, initiated during the uprising, shows no end in sight after 60-plus hours.

Clashes turned deadly violent in Mamasani County, Fars province, where Tasnim News detailed protesters breaching a courthouse, igniting blazes in guard rooms. Prosecutor Hassan Elahi described how flames rapidly engulfed interiors from basement to upper floors until forces intervened.

This standoff pits a defiant populace against an unyielding regime, with global implications looming large. As blackouts and threats persist, the specter of wider regional instability grows ever more real.

UN Permits Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Visit India, Amidst Humanitarian Crisis

News Analysis India — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The United Nations Security Council has granted a travel ban exemption to Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, enabling him to travel to India from October 9 to 16. This exemption falls under the purview of Security Council resolution 1988 (2011), which typically imposes travel restrictions on individuals linked to the Taliban. However, the resolution allows for exceptions for official duties or medical needs. This decision comes at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with a worsening humanitarian and social crisis under the Taliban’s governance. The government recently shut down telecom services across the country but later restored them. Concurrently, the nation experienced a total internet blackout, impacting 43 million people, a first under the current regime, which follows recent restrictions on women’s rights and activities.

Afghanistan Plunged into Internet Blackout as Taliban Tightens Control

News Analysis India — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Afghanistan is experiencing a complete internet blackout due to actions taken by the Taliban, according to reports. The nationwide telecoms shutdown is part of the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to curb activities it deems “immoral.” Netblocks, a global internet watchdog, confirmed the disconnection of multiple networks across the country, including limitations on telephone services. This marks the first instance of a total internet blackout in Afghanistan under the current hardline Islamist government, impacting a population of 43 million. The shutdown comes at a critical time, just weeks after a major earthquake that has already created significant need for humanitarian assistance. Connectivity was cut in phases, with the final stage affecting telephone services. Cloudflare Radar has identified that Kabul, Herat and Kandahar were amongst the cities most affected. Authorities have also announced a one-week deadline to shut down 3G and 4G internet services, leaving only the 2G mobile network active.

Afghanistan Follows North Korea’s Path, Taliban Shuts Down Internet and Mobile Services Nationwide

News Analysis India — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Taliban in Afghanistan has issued a new order, mirroring the practices of North Korea. This directive mandates the shutdown of communication services throughout the country, leading to the suspension of internet and telecom services. As a result, the Afghan population is now largely cut off from the outside world. This action has isolated over 43 million citizens, causing connectivity to plummet to less than one percent of normal levels on Monday, according to the global internet monitoring firm NetBlocks. This blackout follows several weeks of restrictions. Earlier this month, Taliban officials began severing fiber optic connections in multiple provinces, severely impacting high-speed internet access. On September 16th, Attaullah Zaid, the spokesperson for Balkh province, announced a complete ban on fiber optic services in the northern region, citing the need to ‘prevent evil’ as the reason behind the order.

Balochistan Extends Restrictions Amid Security Concerns, Despite Court Order

News Analysis India — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Balochistan government has extended Section 144 for an additional 15 days, maintaining restrictions on public gatherings and activities until August 31. This decision, according to officials, is due to heightened security concerns during August, a period when armed groups are believed to intensify attacks, particularly around significant dates in August. The decree continues to prohibit motorcycle pillion riding and face coverings, and it restricts gatherings of five or more individuals. Nighttime movement of public transport has also been limited since August 13. Furthermore, mobile internet services (3G and 4G) have been suspended across all 36 districts of Balochistan since August 6, with the blackout scheduled to last until August 31. Despite a Balochistan High Court ruling to restore internet services in most areas, the suspension persists, severely impacting communication, education, employment, business, and news dissemination. Residents and civil society groups have voiced concerns and urged the government to comply with the court’s directives. Meanwhile, a curfew in the Nasirabad area of Kech district has led to closed markets and restricted movement, causing shortages of essential items, according to local reports. The All Parties Kech alliance has condemned the curfew. Similar actions have been observed in other regions, like Gwadar, where security forces restricted movement around Pakistan’s National Day. The government maintains these restrictions are necessary to prevent militant offensives. However, political parties and human rights organizations view the measures as collective punishment disproportionately affecting civilians.