Afghan Taliban Suspend Broadcasts of Shamshad TV Over Refusal to Air Anti-Pakistan Content

The Afghan Taliban government has suspended the broadcasts of Shamshad TV, the country’s second-largest media outlet, reportedly due to its refusal to air an anti-Pakistan narrative. Media organizations have condemned the move and called for a clear explanation and restoration of the channel’s transmissions.

According to a report by Afghan news agency Khama Press, neither Taliban officials nor representatives of Shamshad TV have commented on the suspension. Shamshad was among the few media outlets that maintained relatively independent coverage of regional and political issues.

The Afghan Journalists Center (AFJC) announced on Saturday that the Kabul administration ordered the suspension of Shamshad Radio and Television, one of Afghanistan’s leading private broadcasters. AFJC stated that the channel’s broadcasts were halted on Friday evening under direct orders from the Taliban’s intelligence directorate.

Shamshad was accused of inadequate coverage of recent clashes between Kabul and Pakistan, and for failing to effectively represent Kabul’s position during Pakistan’s airstrikes.

The Afghan Media Support Organization (AMSO) also confirmed the suspension, reporting that Taliban media officials informed Shamshad’s management that the directive came directly from Kandahar, considered the political center of the Taliban movement.

Both AFJC and AMSO strongly condemned the action, describing it as “blatant interference in the work of independent media” and urged authorities to lift the ban immediately.

According to reports by Afghan International, AFJC highlighted that over the past four years, the Taliban has severely restricted the media environment in Afghanistan, imposing wide-ranging bans, shutting down media outlets, and arresting or intimidating journalists.

The Taliban have previously suspended operations of several other media networks. Earlier, the Afghan Journalists Center reported that Taliban authorities had imposed bans on broadcasting images of living beings in more than 20 provinces.