Restrictions on media freedom in Afghanistan continue to deepen as Taliban authorities have shut down three local radio stations in Kandahar, drawing criticism from media advocacy groups that warn the country’s already shrinking space for independent journalism is facing further erosion.
According to local sources, Taliban intelligence personnel, accompanied by officials from the information and culture department, ordered the closure of Radio Tahsin-al-Quran, Radio Sanga and Radio Zama Zeewar in Kandahar province.
Taliban authorities claimed the stations were operating without valid licences, had outstanding tax liabilities and were broadcasting what officials described as non-standard content.
However, the Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) rejected those claims, saying the licensing renewals and related administrative procedures had been delayed by Taliban authorities themselves and were not completed within the required timeframe.
The organization argued that shutting down media outlets over bureaucratic delays was both unreasonable and unjustified, particularly at a time when Afghan journalists are already facing mounting professional and economic pressures.
Meanwhile, a manager associated with the affected stations reportedly disputed Taliban allegations regarding tax arrears and broadcasting violations, insisting that at least two of the stations had complied with relevant requirements and that the accusations were merely a pretext to silence independent voices.
AMSO called on Taliban authorities to immediately allow the three radio stations to resume operations and end what it described as growing restrictions on the media sector.
The watchdog further warned that media closures not only limit public access to information but also threaten the livelihoods of journalists, producers and technical staff already struggling amid Afghanistan’s economic crisis.
The latest action comes after another local media outlet was suspended in Bamiyan province over alleged licensing issues. Media monitors say at least four local outlets have been forced off air during the past week alone, highlighting a broader pattern of pressure on independent journalism across the country.
Growing Pressure on Journalists
The closures add to increasing concerns among international observers over the deteriorating media environment under Taliban rule. The development follows the recent detention of workers associated with a leading Afghan broadcaster, an incident that triggered widespread concern among press freedom advocates. Reports indicate that Taliban authorities have also intensified pressure on the broadcaster following the arrests, raising fears of further restrictions on independent reporting.
At the same time, an exiled Afghan media watchdog, has appealed for United Nations intervention, urging international bodies to take notice of what it describes as systematic curbs on press freedom and the targeting of journalists inside Afghanistan.
The media crackdown is unfolding even as Taliban authorities continue to pursue international economic and development engagements. In a recent development, the Afghanistan National Standards Authority signed a contract worth more than $46 million with Indian international company TCRC for the construction and equipping of advanced laboratory complexes in Kabul and at nine border crossings across the country, a project officials say is aimed at strengthening quality control and trade infrastructure.
Analysts note that while the Taliban seek greater economic cooperation and international investment, concerns over civil liberties, media freedom and the treatment of journalists remain among the key obstacles to broader international acceptance and engagement.
