CPJ Urges Taliban to Reinstate Media Licenses of 17 media outlets in Nangarhar

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for the immediate reinstatement of broadcasting licenses for 17 media outlets in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Amu TV reported yesterday.

CPJ’s Asia Program Coordinator, Beh Lih Yi, emphasized the importance of these outlets, stating they reach millions and must be allowed to operate independently. The Taliban recently suspended these licenses, claiming the outlets failed to pay frequency license fees.

In a report dated August 5, the Afghanistan Journalists Center revealed that the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology issued warnings that the media outlets would remain closed until their taxes were paid. CPJ condemned the Taliban’s ongoing pressure on media, accusing them of attempting to control programming and broadcasting operations. The organization insists that the Taliban must cease these practices and allow independent journalism to thrive in Afghanistan.