Taliban Intelligence Halts Broadcasts of Shamshad TV in Kabul
The broadcasts of Shamshad, a private radio and television network in Kabul, have been halted by order of Taliban intelligence, according to the Afghanistan Journalists Center. The media organization condemned the move as a blatant interference in the operations of independent media.
A reliable source in Kabul told the Afghanistan Journalists Center that Taliban intelligence officials accused Shamshad TV of biased coverage of recent clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani troops, as well as Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan. The officials reportedly claimed that the network failed to offer adequate support for the Taliban administration’s views.
Shamshad TV, regarded as one of Afghanistan’s leading private media outlets, has so far remained silent on the suspension and the accusations, with no official response issued by its management.
The incident comes amid increasing pressure by the Taliban administration on Afghan media in recent years, which has severely restricted freedom of expression and challenged the independence of the press.
