A group of Afghan journalists in exile has launched an independent news agency, Baztab Naw News, saying it aims to provide uncensored coverage of Afghanistan amid mounting restrictions on media under Taliban rule.
Baztab Naw announced the start of its operations at a formal event held in Istanbul, Turkey, at the headquarters of the Refah wa Hambastagi association. The outlet described itself as a free and independent media organisation operating from exile.
In a statement, the founders said Baztab Naw would focus on reporting on human rights, the situation of women, media freedom and migration, areas they said have been increasingly constrained since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
Founder Tamim Attai said the agency was not affiliated with any political group or power and was committed to accountability and public-interest journalism.
“Severe censorship, media repression and threats against journalists have forced many independent outlets inside Afghanistan either to shut down or to become propaganda tools,” Attai said.
He added that many Afghan journalists in recent years had been killed, detained or forced to flee the country, and said Baztab Naw was created to prevent what he described as the silencing of independent voices.
The outlet said it would prioritise reporting on women barred from education and public life, the challenges facing Afghan refugees and migrants, and efforts to counter disinformation, while serving as a bridge between Afghans and the international community.
Media freedoms have sharply deteriorated under the Taliban. Rights groups say at least 15 television outlets were shut down in Afghanistan in 2025 alone.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center has reported a 13% rise in censorship, threats and violence against media workers last year compared with 2024, documenting 205 cases of violations nationwide. Five journalists remained in Taliban custody at the end of 2025, the group said.
Separately, findings by Amu TV show the Taliban have enforced a ban on broadcasting images of living beings in at least 16 provinces, including Kandahar, Helmand, Nangarhar and Panjshir, citing regulations under the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
