KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban-run Ministry of Information and Culture announced that two radio stations, Jawanan and Begum, have been granted permission to resume operations under certain conditions.
In a statement, the ministry claimed that both media outlets had previously operated in violation of Taliban policies and had collaborated with foreign media organizations banned by the group. The ministry emphasized that it supports media operations that align with national interests, religious values, and Afghan traditions.
The stations were raided on Feb. 4 by agents from the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence and the Ministry of Information and Culture. The operation targeted Jawanan Radio, which caters to male audiences, and Radio Begum, which focuses on women’s issues. Two employees—a sports journalist from Jawanan Radio and an editor from Radio Begum—were detained and remain in custody at an undisclosed location.
Radio Begum, which launched on March 8, 2021, has continued to broadcast despite increasing restrictions. In response to mounting Taliban censorship, the Begum Organization for Women expanded its initiatives, launching Begum TV in March 2024 and an online educational platform in 2023 to provide home-based learning programs for Afghan girls barred from attending school.
