The first newspaper, Shams-i Nahar (Morning Sun) was published in 1873 during the rule of Sher Ali Khan.[5]
Another newspaper, Siraj-ul-Akhbar (Lamp of the News) was initially published on January 11, 1906, with Abdul-Rauf as editor. After this first and only issue in Persian language, its publication stopped. It was revived in October 1911 by Mahmud Tarzi, the editor and owner of the newspaper who was critical of the friendship between the British Empire and Afghanistan. Mahmud Tarzi became known as the pioneer of Afghan journalism, in 1916 he famously wrote: "Siraj Al Akhbar Afghaniya is neither British, nor Russian nor French nor Italian nor German nor Chinese or Japanese. It is a Muslim newspaper and, in that, it is specifically an Afghan newspaper. Whatever it says, whatever melody it sings, is from an Afghan point of view and stems from the tone of Afghan national dignity." In 1919, under KingAmanullah Khan, Aman-i-Afghan (Afghan Peace) replaced Siraj al-Akhbar, serving as an organ of the government, while several smaller private journals appeared under different ministries.[6] Along with these developments, Radio Kabul began broadcasting in 1925, which inaugurated a new era of mass media in the country.[6] The 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan and the Press Law of 1965 provided for freedom of the press, within the boundaries of appropriate behavior. The 1960s saw a rapid growth of television services around the world, including most developing countries. The conceptual foundation of Television in Afghanistan to improve literacy rate and specific technical recommendation for initial launch was first published in 1967 by Dr. Hafiz Sahar, Chief Editor of national morning newspaper, in his academic work in New York University.[7][8] It was not until 1978, due to political instability in the 1970s, that the first TV channel was launched in Kabul with a grant aid from Japan. The press was editorially independent from government but was instructed to safeguard the interests of the state and constitutional monarchy, Islam, and public order. Afghan journalism progressed and developed from the 1950s through to the 1970s, though it remained limited.
Central control panel at Radio Kabul transmitter in the 1950s. Transmitter can be heard as far distant as South Africa and Indonesia.
When King Zahir Shah's government was overthrown in the 1973 coup by his cousin Daoud Khan, approximately 19 newspapers were shut down and media came under severe restriction, ending a period of relative freedom.[9] The first color television broadcasting appeared in 1978.[9] The media fell into the control of Soviet influences during the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1992.[10]
In the late 1990s, media under the Taliban government was characterized by strict media laws, including the banning of television.[9] The Taliban instigated the destruction of television sets in 1998.[11] People caught with a television in their homes were subject to monetary fines, flogging, or imprisonment. Most media operated from other countries, except for a small area in northern Afghanistan, which had its own television service called Badakhshan Television. It broadcast news and films for around 5,000 viewers for three hours a day.[12][13] All television stations had been shut down by order of the Taliban,[9] and printed newspapers were forbidden to publish commentary, photos, or readers letters. The radio stations under Taliban control broadcast nothing other than religious programs and selected news. Around 70% of the population listened to its broadcasts.[11] In 2000, the Taliban government launched The Islamic Emirate, an English-language newspaper designed to counteract information produced by the "enemies of Islam".[11] Only Russia, Czech Republic and Serbia had news bureaus based in Kabul due to instability.[9] The Kabul TV center was converted into a military barracks, and journalists were not permitted to work with foreign media.[11] The media environment remained bleak until the overthrow of the Taliban government in late 2001.
The Afghan media has experienced a rapid growth during the Karzai administration in the early 2000s, with dozens of TV stations reestablished around the country. Some of these include Tolo, Ariana Television Network, Lemar, Shamshad, and the state-owned Afghanistan National Television. Over two hundred radio stations have also been established. As of 2019, there are over 1,800 media outlets in the country.[2] All media flourished under Afghanistan's new rules, though journalists do undergo self-censorship; penalties are still in place for defaming individuals and running material contrary to the principles of Islam.[13]
Some government officials have used their positions to maintain their own communications facilities, as national and local governments own or control several dozen newspapers and many electronic media outlets.[14] A 2004 media law prohibits censorship, but requires registration of periodicals with the Ministry of Information and Culture; in 2005 some 250 periodicals were registered.[14] International organizations have been training new journalists since the fall of the Taliban.[12] However, due to instability in Afghanistan, journalists have been as highly targeted as soldiers, as shown by instances of kidnapping and death threats.[15] An NGO named Nai (meaning flute, an important symbolic instrument for broadcasting) tracks violence against journalists with its Media Watch Data.[16] More than 100 journalists also protested a raid on a private TV station which drew concern of further government interference in reporting.[17]
One of Afghanistan's largest independent news agencies is Pajhwok Afghan News, which was founded in 2004 by Afghan journalists who worked with the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. It has reporters in nearly every province, and publishes stories online in English, Dari and Pashto.[18]Bakhtar News Agency, another wire service, is run by the Afghan government. Khaama Press was established by an Afghan journalist Khushnood Nabizada in 2010 with an aim to report stories in English. It later started to publish contents in Persian and Pashto in addition to English.
Although many fewer Afghan women than men work as journalists, female Afghan reporters and editors are increasingly making their voices heard not just on traditionally "feminine" topics like education and health, but on larger issues affecting Afghanistan, such as the tension between tradition and modernity.[19]Shukria Barakzai founded the weekly bilingual Women's Voice to campaign for women's rights. She was elected to the House of the People (or Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of the National Assembly of Afghanistan), and speaks up for hopes that a better and freer press will lead to strong democracy and civil society.[20] One of the most high-profile government attacks on press freedom occurred in 2008 when presenter Mohammad Nasir Fayyaz of Ariana Television Network was arrested for criticizing members of the cabinet. He was later released without charge.[21] During the Afghan presidential election, 2009 there were some reports of attacks on press freedom.[22] On April 30, 2018, nine journalists lost their lives in an insurgent bombing in Kabul, the deadliest incident against journalists since 2001.[23] By the end of the year a total of 14 journalists and media workers were killed in Afghanistan.[24] In 2020, journalist Zahra Joya founded Rukhshana Media, the country's first feminist news agency.[25] Most female Afghan journalists were forced to leave their jobs after the takeover.[26][27][28]
Radio broadcasting in Afghanistan began in 1925 with Radio Kabul being the first station. By the late 1970s most homes owned at least one radio, especially in the major cities. As of 2023, the country has over 200 AM, FM and shortwave radio stations.[34][35] They broadcast mainly in Pashto and Dari languages. BBC World Service, Voice of America, Radio Azadi and others have also been active in Afghanistan as additional sources of news.[33]
With a combination of national news and political programs, original reality TV shows, American programs like "24", ARIA TV has been the first exclusive channel for children and teenagers, while TOLO (TV channel) is one of the most watched station. Saad Mohseni, chairman of Tolo's parent company, MOBY Group, said Moby's revenues are in the $20 million range and the media company operates at a profit.[37]Lemar TV, which broadcasts in Pashto language, is a sister channel of Tolo. Another channel that is mostly in Pashto is Shamshad TV, which is owned by another Afghan group. Sharq TV is another channel that broadcasts in Pashto in the Eastern zone of Afghanistan, it is owned by Shaiq Network. Baano TV is a women-dedicated channel started in July 2017.
ABS "Afghanistan Broadcast System" a part of ACG "Asian Consulting Group" start its DTTV service under the trade name of Oqaab. Oqaab ((meaning “eagle” in Dari)),is a digital broadcasting service that allows users to see television in digital format. Digital TV is an advanced television format that provides a much better picture and sound quality when compared to traditional analog television. Users will continue to receive local channels for free while, coming soon, expanded premium channels will be offered for a low month fee. Today many new TV channels start their Broadcasting via ABS (OQAAB). ANAAR TV was the first Digital TV (DTT) which starts its broadcasting on 31 May 2015 dedicated to technology.
The following are some of the digital TV channels that have been airing programs: Khurshid TV, 1 TV, Shamshad TV, Anaar TV, Harirood TV (Now Afghanistan TV), Hadees TV, 10 TV, Mashal TV, 11TV, Meshrano Jerga TV (Parliament's 2nd TV channel) and Afghanistan Youth TV.
After the return of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, there has been increasing censorship of television programs on established outlets. In March 2022, the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice announced an order that all foreign serials and dramas are to be banned from airing. This led to the arrests of three TOLOnews staffs, two of which were released hours later and one a day later.[38] The Taliban justified this in a statement by saying "Some media outlets were reporting cases that offended the religious sentiments of the community and threatened our national security" and "In addition, the evil and vicious elements were receiving their propaganda material against the state from the contents of these media".[39]
Communications in Afghanistan is under the control of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). It has rapidly expanded after the Karzai administration was formed in late 2001, and has embarked on wireless companies, internet, radio stations and television channels.
Shaima Rezayee was a TV presenter on the Afghan music television channel, Tolo TV. Rezayee was a rising star in the post-Taliban ruled Afghanistan, specially very popular among the youth. She was also the first female western-style music presenter to appear on television in Afghanistan's conservative history.
Baghch-e-Simsim is a Dari- and Pashto-language co-production based on the American children's television series Sesame Street. The series launched in Afghanistan in December 2011, and has aired on TOLO and Lemar.
The Pashto media includes Pashto literature, Pashto-language newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, as well as Pashto films and Pashto internet. Pashto media involves the Pashtuns of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Pashtun diaspora around the world.
TOLO is a commercial television station operated by MOBY Group in Afghanistan. Launched in 2004, it became one of the first commercial stations in the country and laid the foundation for an accessible media outlet by offering a large library of shows. It is one of the most popular television channels in Afghanistan and broadcasts shows in both Dari-Persian and Pashto.
Ariana Afghanistan International TV is a satellite television channel based in Irvine, California, United States, with branches in Hamburg and Kabul. It is founded and owned by Nabil Miskinyar. It currently broadcasts on the satellite Galaxy 19 97°W to North America, and TürkmenÄlem 52°E / MonacoSAT for Europe, Western and Central Asia.
Saad Mohseni is an Afghan Australian businessman and entrepreneur. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of MOBY Group, launched in Afghanistan in 2002 and now active across South and Central Asia and the Middle East. He has brought top tier news and media content to emerging and frontier markets over the past two decades. Prior to establishing MOBY Group, he headed the equities and corporate finance division of an Australian investment banking firm.
Zabihullah Mujahid is an Afghan official serving as the chief spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) since 25 October 2021 and Deputy Minister of Information and Culture since 7 September 2021. He has long served as one of several spokesmen for the Taliban, the others being Suhail Shaheen and Yousef Ahmadi. Mujahid commented mainly on the Taliban's activities in eastern, northern, and central Afghanistan, while Ahmadi focused on the western and southern regions. In addition to being the government's main spokesman, Mujahid serves as a personal spokesman for Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Pajhwok Afghan News is Afghanistan's largest independent news agency with its headquarters in Kabul. In addition to 24-hour general news reporting, it also publishes special investigative reports about important topics relating to Afghanistan, including political corruption. The agency has eight regional bureaus and a nationwide network of reporters and correspondents. Pajhwok delivers an average daily output of three dozen stories in English, Pashto and Dari languages. The news agency also provides photographs, video footage and audio clips to international wire agencies, televisions and radio stations.
Moby Media Group is the largest media company in Afghanistan. Moby Group is privately owned, with headquarters in Kabul and 15 bureaus throughout Afghanistan. The company also has an office in Dubai, where regional business is conducted.
Television broadcasts in Afghanistan started in the year 1978. As of 2017, there are around 76 local channels operating in the country; the state television channel is Afghanistan National Television. As with other mass media in Afghanistan, television is regulated by the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Khaama Press is one of prominent online news service agenices for Afghanistan, established in October 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan, by Khushnood Nabizada, an Afghan journalist and entrepreneur.
Tolo News, stylized TOLOnews, is an Afghan news channel and website broadcasting from Kabul. Owned by the Moby Media Group, it was launched in August 2010 as Afghanistan's first twenty-four hour news channel.
Aryana Sayeed is an Afghan pop singer and songwriter. She sings mostly in Dari but also has many songs in Pashto and some in Uzbek. Sayeed also had hosting roles in musical television shows for the 1TV and TOLO networks along with appearances on reality shows. Sayeed has established herself as one of Afghanistan's most famous contemporary musical artists, performing regularly in concerts and philanthropic festivals within and outside Afghanistan.
On 30 April 2018, two suicide bombers detonated near government buildings in central Kabul, Afghanistan, killing at least 29 people and injuring 50.
Muhammad Suhail Shaheen is a Taliban member who is currently the head of the Political Office in Doha. He edited the English-language, state-owned Afghan newspaper The Kabul Times during the first Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001), before being appointed to Afghanistan's Embassy in Pakistan as a deputy ambassador.
The General Directorate of Intelligence is the Afghan national intelligence and security agency under the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Ismail Mashal is an Afghan educator and former journalist who received international press attention in 2022 due to his public criticisms of the Taliban's decision to ban education for women and girls, which led to him being imprisoned in February 2023.
↑ Sahar, Hafiz (7 April 2021). Television in Afghanistan: A Comparative Study of Educational Television in Selected Developing Countries and Its Relevance to the Similar Use Television in Afghanistan. David Sahar. ISBN978-1737020707.
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