Taliban Shut Down 3 Local Radio Stations in Kandahar

DID Press: Afghanistan Media Support Organization has warned of escalating restrictions on the press after Taliban authorities suspended the operations of three local radio stations in Kandahar Province.

In a statement, AMSO said the closures reflect a shrinking media environment in Afghanistan and pose serious threats to public access to information and journalists’ job security.

According to local sources, Taliban intelligence officials and the province’s Department of Information and Culture ordered the suspension of Tahsin-ul-Quran Radio, Sanga Radio, and Zama Zewar Radio.

Taliban authorities claimed the stations lacked valid licenses, had unpaid taxes, and aired “non-standard” programming. However, AMSO cited sources saying the Taliban had deliberately delayed the renewal process for the stations’ licenses in Kabul.

The organization described the shutdowns as “unreasonable and unfair,” arguing that silencing media outlets over administrative delays amounts to suppressing independent journalism.

A representative from the affected stations also told the Afghanistan Journalists Center that allegations regarding tax debts and improper broadcasting — particularly against Sanga and Zama Zewar radios — were false and merely a pretext to halt independent media activity.

AMSO warned that the closure of media outlets amid Afghanistan’s worsening economic conditions not only deprives citizens of information but also threatens the livelihoods of many journalists.

The Taliban have suspended at least four local media outlets within the past week. Earlier, a local radio station in Bamyan Province was also shut down over alleged licensing issues.