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Though banned in Afghanistan, Starlink terminals are smuggled in from Pakistan and Iran, fetching up to USD 2,000 each on the black market
A Taliban flag flutters near telecom equipment installed over a rooftop providing internet services as the Taliban administration banned fibre-optic internet in Balkh province. (Image: Atif ARYAN/AFP)
Internet services in Afghanistan came back online Wednesday, restoring vital communication and web connectivity for residents two days after the Taliban government blocked access nationally without any explanation. But even as connections were restored, Starlink, the satellite internet service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, remains formally banned in Afghanistan.
According to the company’s website, Starlink is not available in the country, yet terminals are widely smuggled in from Pakistan and Iran and sold on the black market for as much as USD 2,000 each, CNN-News18 has learned.
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Earlier Threats
Taliban officials had already signalled their intent to curb access. In September, the governor of Balkh province, Haji Zaid, announced that internet services would be cut to prevent what he called “immoral activities,” citing a directive from the reclusive Supreme Leader, Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada. He added that a domestic “alternative system” would be developed for essential needs, though he offered no clarity on what was meant by “immoral.”
According to the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), disruptions began on September 16, culminating in the nationwide shutdown imposed on the evening of September 29.
Smuggling Networks Step In
Sources close to the Haqqani network say the banned devices have long been the “only viable option” for Taliban fighters, NGOs, journalists and wealthy Afghans who need connectivity. Indian intelligence sources say smuggling Starlink has grown as lucrative as drug trafficking, with the same routes once used for opium now moving internet kits.
Payments are being routed through dollars, gold and hawala channels, raising new financial intelligence concerns.
Taliban’s Internal Divide
The Supreme Leader has ordered strict controls on internet use, but commanders in Kabul and Kandahar are openly defying the ban. Some Taliban units reportedly use Starlink for battlefield coordination and communication with external communication. The split reflects a clash between fighters seeking access to the modern world and hardline leaders determined to keep Afghanistan in isolation.
This has sharpened a rift inside the Taliban’s ranks, between the Haqqani faction, which embraces modern tools, and the Kandahar leadership pushing for total blackout.
Double Standards And Everyday Use
While ordinary fighters are warned not to use Starlink, Taliban sources say government officials themselves borrow connections at night to stream cricket matches. At the same time, the Taliban administration relies on internet access for banking, logistics and airport operations. This contradiction has made the double standard unavoidable.
Beyond The Taliban
Journalists, NGOs, and opposition groups are also turning to smuggled Starlink to bypass censorship, ensuring that even with harsh enforcement, the Taliban cannot achieve a total information blackout.
Growing Fears In Kandahar
People close to the Supreme Leader are said to be unaware of how widely Starlink has spread. But there are concerns that Kabul may soon push for a regional clampdown, or pressure Elon Musk’s company directly through Qatar-based intermediaries.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
October 03, 2025, 11:38 IST
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