The Afghan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) suspended 17 broadcast licenses for 14 media outlets on July 22 in eastern Nangarhar province due to non-payment of taxes, raising significant concerns about press freedom in the region.

ATRA is a regulatory body that operates as part of the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The Taliban had already shut down seven media outlets in the first half of this year, including several radio stations across different provinces.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology reportedly warned the 14 media outlets that they would not be allowed to operate until they settled their outstanding annual license fees, amounting to 108,000 Afghanis (approx. USD 1,500) per year.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) acknowledged that many media outlets owe back taxes ranging from one to ten years. Currently, only 14 radio stations remain operational in Nangarhar.

Local media officials reported that economic difficulties have increased since the Taliban’s return to power, with advertising revenue, their primary income source, significantly decreasing.

Outlets with suspended radio licenses include:

• The Nan
• Radio Safa
• Meena
• Radio Dost
• Mazal
• Manar
• Muram
• Haqiqat
• Hood
• Spinghar
• Ulfat

Representatives of Afghan Independent Journalists’ Union (AIJU) met with officials of the suspended media outlets in Nangarhar and continue to coordinate with the media and the Taliban Ministry to find a solution.

The AIJU said: “In addition to these 14 media outlets, other media outlets have not paid the frequency tax for 15 years and have not renewed their media licenses. AIJU met with the officials of the suspended media outlets in Nangarhar and is in constant contact with these media outlets in other provinces and is working with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Telecommunications to solve this problem.”

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said: “IFJ condemns the continued efforts by the Taliban to stifle press freedom and demands the reinstatement of the licenses of the 14 media outlets in Nangarhar. Attempting to shutter outlets under the pretext of non-payment of license fees is of great concern, and the IFJ is investigating why the Taliban remains operating on a licensing system that predates its power.”

“Taliban officials must immediately reverse their decision to suspend the broadcast licenses of 14 active media outlets in Nangarhar province that collectively reach millions of people,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ Asia program coordinator. “The Taliban continues to exert pressure on media outlets to control their programming and broadcasting operations in Afghanistan. They must cease these tactics and allow the independent media to operate freely.”