KABUL, Afghanistan – Nai, an organization promoting open media in Afghanistan, has temporarily suspended its operations, as confirmed by Mujeeb Khalwatgar, the organization’s head. Khalwatgar, who is currently based outside of Afghanistan, stated that he would detail the reasons for this suspension at a later date.
Expressing hope for a future resurgence, Khalwatgar cited the current political and social landscape in Afghanistan as a factor in their decision. “The current political situation and the challenging conditions under Taliban rule have led to the temporary cessation of Nai’s activities in Afghanistan,” he explained.
Established in 2004, Nai has been a significant advocate for media rights in Afghanistan. Over the years, it has released numerous reports on the state of journalism and media organizations in the country. In the past two years, Nai has issued statements regarding the Taliban’s arrest of journalists, while cautiously referring to Taliban officials as “responsible” and avoiding direct public criticism.
The Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, previously stated that Nai, operating from outside Afghanistan, is not authorized to comment on the country’s media landscape and is not recognized as a legitimate entity within Afghanistan.
