Kabul faces blackout as Taliban falters on electricity bills payment

Ahead of the harsh winter season in Afghanistan, the country’s capital city Kabul could dive into darkness due to non-payment of dues of Central Asian electricity suppliers by new Taliban rulers.

Daud Noorzai, who resigned as chief executive of the country’s state power authority, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), warned that the situation could cause a humanitarian disaster, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

Noorzai had resigned nearly two weeks after the Taliban’s takeover on August 15. He now remains in close contact with DABS officials.

“The consequences would be countrywide, but especially in Kabul. There will be blackout and it would bring Afghanistan back to the Dark Ages when it comes to power and to telecommunications,” said Noorzai. “This would be a really dangerous situation.”