Taliban has imposed new restrictions on Afghanistan’s media, banning the live broadcast of political programs and current affairs shows on domestic outlets.
According to a source, media outlets agreed to the restrictions during a meeting with Taliban authorities on Saturday. For the next week, political programs will be pre-recorded before airing, the source said.
Several media sources confirmed that the Taliban’s intelligence agency has also introduced its own trusted experts and instructed outlets not to invite critics of the regime.
“A meeting was held with media officials, and the ban was accepted for a week. Further discussions are expected before a final decision is made,” the source said.
Media sources told Amu TV that Taliban intelligence, in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Culture, has warned outlets against airing any criticism of the regime in political programs.
“Journalists are now facing both government censorship and self-censorship,” said Mustafa Shahryar, a journalist. “Experts avoid speaking the truth out of fear of repercussions.”
The restrictions have drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates and political commentators.
The Afghan Journalists Support Organization called the ban on live political broadcasts a serious violation of press freedom, noting that the Taliban has introduced its own trusted individuals to appear on programs.
Former political program hosts say the Taliban is suppressing dissenting voices in an effort to silence critics.
“Every day, the Taliban’s growing restrictions are destroying any hope for freedom of expression in Afghanistan,” said Nusrat Mansoor, a former political show host. “The international community must recognize that these actions are silencing the voices of the Afghan people.”
Journalists across Afghanistan report that the Taliban has placed extensive limitations on their work, preventing them from reporting anything critical of the regime.
“There are so many restrictions now, and even though we gather information, we often can’t broadcast it,” said Basira, a journalist. “We are forced to air only what we are told.”
In addition to curbing political discourse, Taliban authorities are pressuring media outlets to avoid using certain words and phrases. The group has reportedly pushed for the removal of terms like “university,” “court,” and “army chief” in favor of their preferred language.
Media sources confirmed that some outlets have complied with these demands and have stopped using the banned terms in recent broadcasts.
