KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban authorities have suspended the operations of three private radio stations in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, as the group intensifies its crackdown on independent media across the country.
The Taliban Directorate of Information and Culture announced on Sunday via X that it had halted broadcasts of “Tahsin al-Qur’an,” “Sanga,” and “Zama Zeewar” for allegedly operating without valid licenses, failing to pay taxes, and violating the group’s media regulations.
In the same statement, the authorities warned other stations — “Millat Zagh” and “Wranga” — to complete all necessary licensing procedures within a specified period or face similar action. The directorate stressed that all radio stations must align their content with Islamic principles and ethical guidelines set by the authorities.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), an independent media watchdog now based in exile, strongly condemned the closures, describing them as part of a systematic effort to suppress press freedom in Afghanistan.
In a statement, the watchdog stated that the Taliban’s claims of unpaid taxes were inaccurate in the cases of Sanga and Zama Zeewar, and appeared to serve as pretexts to pressure independent outlets into stricter alignment with the authorities’ narrative.
Officials from the affected stations told the watchdog that delays and obstructions in obtaining approvals from the Taliban General Directorate of Information have made licensing extremely difficult. They also highlighted the heavy financial burden imposed by the Taliban, saying the high taxes and fees are unaffordable for most media outlets struggling amid Afghanistan’s ongoing economic crisis.
The closures in Kandahar come just days after Taliban authorities in central Bamyan province shut down the private Bamyan Radio station on similar allegations.
Afghanistan’s media landscape has faced severe restrictions since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Journalists and media workers continue to report widespread censorship, arrests, interrogations, threats, and pressure related to their coverage and online activities.
In its latest annual report, the AFJC recorded 207 media rights violations during the solar year 1404 (March 2025 to March 2026), including two journalists killed, one injured, 183 threats, and 21 arrests — marking a more than 20% increase compared to the previous year.
Press freedom organizations have consistently ranked Afghanistan among the worst countries in terms of press freedom. In its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders placed the country 175th out of 180 nations, citing severe limitations on independent reporting and media operations.
