Afghan State TV in Paktia Halts Broadcasts Amid Taliban Image Ban

Afghanistan’s state television in Paktia province has been completely shut down and converted to audio-only programming following a Taliban decree banning the broadcast of images of living beings.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has confirmed that the Taliban’s edict has also affected several other state-run and local visual media outlets. As a result of the directive, journalists and local officials are now prohibited from participating in on-camera interviews and are limited to producing only audio or written reports.

In addition to state television, the restriction has impacted the activities of the state-run Bakhtar News Agency, as well as local visual media outlets such as Nan, Zhwandoon, Hawa, Patan Ghar, and Semkani Ghar across their social media platforms—causing either a complete halt or a significant decline in visual content.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has condemned the move, stating it violates press freedom. The organization has called on the Taliban administration to immediately stop its pressure on the media and to ensure conditions for journalists to operate freely.

This image ban is not confined to Paktia province; reports indicate that similar restrictions have been implemented in 22 other provinces, suggesting the emergence of a systematic nationwide policy aimed at curtailing media freedom throughout Afghanistan.