27 | RISING REPRESSION MEETS GLOBAL RESISTANCE: INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN 2025 Asia Pacific India India imposed 65 internet shutdowns in 2025 — the lowest since 2017 — yet the figure remains alarmingly high for a democracy, impacting 12 states and territories. The shutdowns were deployed during protests, conflict, communal violence, and religious holidays. Frequent shutdowns occur in the country alongside other suppression of digital rights, with authorities also targeting circumvention tools such as VPNs.150 On December 29, 2025, officials in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir invoked Section 163 of the Criminal Procedure Code, imposing a twomonth ban on unauthorized VPN use.151 Police reportedly penalized around 800 users, including through phone searches for banned applications.152 Asia Pacific Pakistan Authorities continued their entrenched censorship practices, imposing at least 20 internet shutdowns in 2025, closely following the rate of 22 incidents recorded in 2024. Pakistan has implemented shutdowns every year since 2016, with a drastic increase in both frequency and scale in 2024 and 2025. These blackouts were employed in response to protests and security incidents as well as during politically and socially sensitive periods, including major religious holidays. For example, in July 2025, authorities suspended mobile and internet services for several hours across multiple cities in Pakistan, citing security and public safety concerns during the Muharram-ul-Haram religious celebration.153 Overall, authorities imposed five shutdowns during religious holidays. Asia Pacific Afghanistan In 2025, the Taliban imposed four shutdowns in Afghanistan, cutting off more than 43 million people at both regional and national levels and targeting internet access, phone services, and digital communication platforms.154 Authorities claimed the shutdowns were necessary to “curb immorality,” but the cuts removed the last lifeline that enabled women and girls who have been barred from education and work to access critical information from the outside world.155 The shutdowns also coincided with a deadly earthquake, severely hampering emergency communications and lifesaving response efforts.156 These blackouts formed part of the de facto regime’s broader effort to increase censorship, following earlier attempts to impose an outright ban on smartphones across the country.157 Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has repeatedly imposed similar restrictions to consolidate power and suppress dissent.158 150 Tech Radar (2026). VPN users under siege in Jammu and Kashmir as authorities issue a 2-month ban – here's what we know. https://www. techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/vpn-users-under-siege-in-jammu-and-kashmir-as-authorities-issue-a-2-month-ban-heres-what-weknow/ 151 Kashmir Life (2025). Authorities ban VPN services in North Kashmir district. https://kashmirlife.net/authorities-ban-vpn-services-in-north-kashmir-district-418942/ 152 The Tribune (2026). Police identify 800 users as crackdown on unauthorised VPNs intensifies in Kashmir. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/police-identify-800-users-as-crackdown-on-unauthorised-vpns-intensifies-in-kashmir/ 153 The Nation (2025). Mobile, internet services suspended in several cities for 9th Muharram. https://www.nation.com.pk/05-Jul-2025/mobile-internet-services-suspended-in-several-cities-for-9th-muharram/ 154 Access Now (2025). The Taliban must restore internet access across Afghanistan now. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/the-taliban-must-restore-internet-access-across-afghanistan/ 155 UNESCO (2025). Afghanistan: Four years on, 2.2 million girls still banned from school. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/afghanistan-four-years-22-million-girls-still-banned-school/ 156 NPR (2025). A look at relief efforts in eastern Afghanistan following Sunday's massive earthquake. https://www.npr.org/2025/09/02/nx-s1-5524897/a-look-at-relief-efforts-in-eastern-afghanistan-following-sundays-massive-earthquake/ 157 Afghanistan International (2025). Taliban leader sought clerics’ ruling to ban smartphones before internet shutdown. https://www.afintl.com/en/202509180237/ 158 Al Jazeera (2021). Growing concerns for Panjshir residents as Taliban claims victory. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/6/dire-situation-for-130000-residents-trapped-in-panjshir