KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has voiced concerns over what it describes as the Taliban’s “unprecedented restrictions” on radio stations, saying dozens have been forced to shut down in recent years.
In a statement on Thursday, marking World Radio Day, the media watchdog reported that at least seven radio stations had shut down over the past year, either by direct Taliban orders or due to the group’s restrictive policies.
Established by UNESCO in 2011 and later endorsed by the UN General Assembly, World Radio Day—celebrated each year on February 13—honors the launch of the UN’s first radio broadcast in 1946. The 2025 theme, “Radio and Climate Change,” highlights the role radio plays in addressing environmental challenges.
Despite the increasing use of the internet and social media, radio remains one of the most accessible sources of information in Afghanistan. However, since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, media freedom—especially for radio—has faced unprecedented restrictions.
Just last week, Taliban agents raided Radio Begum, a station run entirely by women that aired educational programs for women and girls. The group seized its equipment and detained employees, accusing the station of violating media policies and collaborating with foreign TV channels. The station’s officials and media rights groups rejected these allegations.
Before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan boasted a vibrant media landscape, with dozens of newspapers and media outlets. However, the situation has deteriorated rapidly, with a staggering number of media organizations suspending their operations since August 2021.
Incidents of harassment, arrest, and even torture of journalists and media workers have become distressingly common, with over 50 such cases recorded in 2024 alone.
The Afghanistan Journalists’ Support Organization (AJSO) reported last year that only 13 of the country’s 91 print newspapers, 68 of its 248 TV channels, and 211 of 438 radio stations remain operational. Others have either been shut down or relocated abroad.
