Taliban halts local radio station in Laghman, eastern Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that Taliban officials have shut down the private radio station “Kawoon Ghag” in Laghman province and claimed ownership of all its equipment.

In a report released on Sunday, July 7th, the center stated that the Taliban forces closed the private radio “Kawoon Ghag,” which has been active in the province for about two decades, citing it as “government property.”

According to the report, the Taliban intelligence forces and representatives from the local administration and the Department of Information and Culture visited the media office on June 24 and halted its operations.

Intelligence forces informed the staff of “Kawoon Ghag” that the building and equipment of this media outlet belong to the government and are thus being confiscated under its name.

Yousefzi Enqelabi, the managing director of Radio Kawoon Ghag, informed the Afghanistan Journalists Center that the radio station was established in 2005 in Mehtarlam, Laghman’s central district, with financial support from Internews, an international organization.

Sources within Laghman province’s local administration informed the Afghanistan Journalists Center that the closure of the radio station by intelligence is a temporary measure, emphasizing that “Kawoon Ghag” is government-owned and plans are underway to determine its management and restart it soon.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has expressed concern over the forced cessation of “Kawoon Ghag” radio activities and has urged for this media outlet’s swift and unconditional reopening.

The closure of “Kawoon Ghag” radio by the Taliban authorities marks a concerning development in the media landscape of Laghman province.

This action raises broader questions about press freedom and the ability of journalists to operate independently in Afghanistan under the new regime.

The future of media plurality and free expression in Laghman province remains uncertain following the closure of the “Kawoon Ghag” radio station.

Since the Taliban assumed control in Afghanistan, more than half of the media outlets have been shuttered. The situation has been particularly dire for journalists, with over 90 per cent of female journalists losing their jobs and more than half of male journalists facing the same fate.

This crackdown on media freedom has exacerbated the already severe humanitarian crisis in the country, leaving many journalists without livelihoods and threatening the flow of independent information to the public.

Meanwhile, the closure of media outlets and the loss of jobs among journalists, both male and female, reflect a troubling trend under Taliban rule. The impact extends beyond economic hardship, posing a significant challenge to press freedom and the dissemination of critical information during a period of profound national crisis.

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