The media of Afghanistan includes printing, broadcasting, and digital. It is mainly in Dari and Pashto, the official languages of the nation. According to the Attorney General's Office of Afghanistan, "there are 1,879 active media outlets in Afghanistan which are called as one of the main achievements of the country in the past 18 years."[1]
In 2019, Reporters Without Borders listed the media environment of Afghanistan as 121 out of 179, with 1st being most free.[2][3] Journalists in the country operate in one of the world's most complex and contested information environments. At times, the lines between propaganda, intelligence, and journalism blur, and some journalists covering Taliban activities have been accused of treachery or arrested by agents of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), while others have been kidnapped, beaten, or assassinated by Taliban insurgents.[4][5][1][6][7][8]
Journalists in Afghanistan face threat from both the insurgent groups and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). In 2017, the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) claimed that the ANSF accounted for 46% of the attacks on journalists while the Taliban and other Islamic extremists were responsible for the rest.[9][10]
The first newspaper, Shams-i Nahar (Morning Sun) was published in 1873 during the rule of Sher Ali Khan.[11]
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.[12] Along with these developments, Radio Kabul began broadcasting in 1925, which inaugurated a new era of mass media in the country.[12] The 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan and the Press Law of 1965 provided for freedom of the press, within the boundaries of appropriate behavior. 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.[13] The first color television broadcasting appeared in 1978.[13] The media fell into the control of Soviet influences during the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1992.[14]
Media under the Taliban government was characterized by strict media laws, including the banning of television.[13] The Taliban instigated the destruction of television sets in 1998.[15] 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.[16][17] All television stations were shut down in 1996 by order of the Taliban,[13] 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.[15] In 2000, the Taliban government launched The Islamic Emirate, an English-language newspaper designed to counteract information produced by the "enemies of Islam".[15] Only Russia, Czech Republic and Serbia had news bureaus based in Kabul due to instability.[13] The Kabul TV center was converted into a military barracks, and journalists were not permitted to work with foreign media.[15] 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, with dozens of TV stations being established around the country. Some of these include Tolo, Ariana Television Network, Lemar, Shamshad, and the state-owned Afghanistan National Television (RTA). Over two hundred radio stations have also been established. As of 2019, there are over 1,000 newspapers, magazines, and other print media.[1] 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.[17]
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.[18] 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.[18] International organizations have been training new journalists since the fall of the Taliban.[16] However, due to instability in Afghanistan, journalists have been as highly targeted as soldiers, as shown by instances of kidnapping and death threats.[19] An NGO named Nai (meaning flute, an important symbolic instrument for broadcasting) tracks violence against journalists with its Media Watch Data.[20] More than 100 journalists also protested a raid on a private TV station which drew concern of further government interference in reporting.[21]
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.[22]Bakhtar News Agency, another wire service, is run by the Afghan government.
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.[23]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.[24] 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.[25] During the Afghan presidential election, 2009 there were some reports of attacks on press freedom.[26] On April 30, 2018, nine journalists lost their lives in an insurgent bombing in Kabul, the deadliest incident against journalists since 2001.[27] By the end of the year a total of 14 journalists and media workers have been killed in Afghanistan.[4]
Radio has long been the most widespread source of information in Afghanistan. Radio broadcasting went into air in 1925 with Radio Kabul being the first station. By the late 1970s nearly every home owned at least one radio, especially in the major cities. As of 2019, the country has 284 radio stations,[1] with AM, FM and shortwave, broadcasting mainly in Pashto and Dari languages. The BBC World Service, Voice of America, Radio Azadi and others broadcast into Afghanistan as an additional source of news, in both Pashto and Dari.[28]
It was reported in 2019 that Afghanistan has 203 television stations, 96 in Kabul and 107 in other provinces of the country.[1] They include local and international channels.[29] One of this is state-owned RTA TV. Satellite and cable television ownership is growing; Al Jazeera widely seen as a leading source of uncensored information.[30] Many global news channels have local bureau's in Kabul, including: CNN, BBC, Sky News, DD News, and Aljazeera.
With a combination of Afghan news and political programs, original reality TV shows, Bollywood movies and American programs like "24", ARIA TV is the first exclusive channel for children and teenagers, while Tolo TV is Afghanistan's 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.[31]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 also another TV channel that broadcasts in Pashto in the Eastern zone of Afghanistan, it is owned by Shaiq Network.
Baano TV is women dedicated channel started in July 2017. The channel is available in Kabul & Mazar-e-sharif as well as on all over Afghanistan & middle east via satellite.
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.
List of Digital TV channels are including but not limited to 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.
Communications in Afghanistan is under the control of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). It has rapidly expanded after the Karzai administration took over in late 2001, and has embarked on wireless companies, internet, radio stations and television channels.
Radio Kabul is the public radio station of Afghanistan. The name Radio Kabul has been given to many different incarnations of the state-run radio station since the first radio transmitters were installed in Kabul in the 1920s.
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.
Radio Azadi is the Afghan branch of the U.S. government's Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) external broadcast services. It broadcasts 12 hours daily as part of a 24-hour stream of programming in conjunction with Voice of America (VOA). Radio Free Afghanistan first aired in Afghanistan from 1985 to 1993 and was re-launched in January 2002. Radio Azadi produces a variety of cultural, political, and informational programs that are transmitted to listeners via shortwave radio, satellite and AM and FM signals provided by the International Broadcasting Bureau. According to Radio Azadi, their mission is "to promote and sustain democratic values and institutions in Afghanistan by disseminating news, factual information and ideas".
Baghch-e-Simsim is a Dari- and Pashto-language children's television series launched in Afghanistan in December 2011, based on the American Sesame Street. Characters appearing in the show include Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Grover, Ernie and Bert. In April 2016, a local Afghan female muppet named Zari was added to Baghch-e-Simsim. Zari's brother Zeerak was introduced in 2017.
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 a Dari (Farsi)-language channel and is currently Afghanistan's most popular television channel.
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. Prior to establishing Moby Group, he headed the equities and corporate finance division of an Australian investment banking firm.
Lemar is a television station based in Kabul, Afghanistan, which was founded in 2006. It is owned by MOBY Group. The channel broadcasts news, shows, and entertainment programs in the Pashto language. Its sister channels are TOLO and TOLOnews.
Shamshad Radio & Television Network is based in Afghanistan and Dubai. Shamshad was launched in early 2006 and broadcasts 24 hours a day. Shamshad TV is one of the most popular Pashto language television stations in Afghanistan.
Pajhwok Afghan News is Afghanistan's largest independent news agency. With headquarters in Kabul, 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, which is the Afghan Persian. Pajhwok also provides photographs, video footage and audio clips to international wire agencies, televisions and radio stations.
Shukria Barakzai is an Afghan politician, journalist and a prominent Muslim feminist. She is the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Norway. She is a recipient of the International Editor of the Year Award.
Television (TV) started broadcasting in Afghanistan in 1977, flourishing until the 1990s, when hostilities in the capital Kabul destroyed broadcasting infrastructure. Between 1996 and 2000, the Taliban government outlawed television, though some stations in areas outside Taliban control continued to broadcast. After their removal, country-wide television broadcasting was resumed beginning with the government-run channel Afghanistan National Television. It was reported that Afghanistan currently has over 200 local and international television channels, 96 in Kabul and 107 in other provinces of the country. In 2014, the country commenced a switched from analog to digital TV transmission.
Ahmad Omaid Khpalwak, also spelled as Ahmed Omed Khpulwak, was an Afghan journalist who worked for the Pajhwok Afghan News and as a freelance stringer for the BBC since 2008. After an investigation into his death, it was determined by the International Security Assistance Force that an American soldier had accidentally killed Khpalwak while clearing a broadcast building of terrorists while Tarin Kowt was under attack. Khpalwak was the third journalist from Pajhwok to be killed in three years. He was the third BBC reporter to be killed in Afghanistan and the second BBC reporter to be killed in the War in Afghanistan.
TOLOnews is Afghanistan's first 24/7 news channel, owned by MOBY Group and has launched in August, 2010. Its sister channels are TOLO TV and Lemar TV in Afghanistan.
Eagle Four is an Afghan 13 part police action/drama series broadcast on Tolo TV. Originally broadcast in 2010, the show is about an elite Afghan Police unit solving crimes and fighting Taliban insurgents. The series was written and directed by Sean Lynch.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province is a branch of the militant Islamist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Some media sources also use the terms ISK, ISISK, IS-KP, or ISIS-K in referring to the group. The Khorasan group's area of operations also includes other parts of South Asia, such as India where individuals have pledged allegiance to it. However its main activity is in the border region of eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan.
Oqaab is the national digital terrestrial television (DTT) service in Afghanistan, operated by the privately owned Afghanistan Broadcasting System (ABS). The service rolled out in April 2015 starting in Kabul and has been expanding to other cities and regions in the country, as ABS has been investing in providing the necessary infrastructure. It broadcasts currently 65 local and international TV channels in the DVB-T2 standard. In the upcoming future the international FTA channels will be replaced by a Pay TV offer.
ANAAR TV is a commercial television station in Kabul, Afghanistan. This channel is launched early after DDTV startup on 31 May 2015, It became one of the first digital terrestrial television (DTTV) stations dedicated to technology, and later became Afghanistan's first English language entertainment Channel. The channel was broadcast via Oqaab DTTV on channel 29, and from 17 January 2016 onward was available on Yahsat.
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