PRESSETAHITI.COM
Newspapers and media of Afghanistan, from Kabul to exile
Afghan news is followed in Dari, Pashto and English on TOLOnews, Ariana News, Pajhwok or Khaama Press in Kabul, and through exile media such as Hasht-e Subh, KabulNow, Amu TV and Afghanistan International, nearly all free online.
Shams al-Nahar and Siraj al-Akhbar, the pioneers
The first Afghan newspaper, Shams al-Nahar, appeared in Kabul around 1873 under Emir Sher Ali Khan. In 1911, Mahmud Tarzi launched Siraj al-Akhbar, an influential reformist paper. The state daily Anis, founded in 1927, then accompanied successive regimes.
The rise of private media after 2001
After the fall of the first Taliban regime, hundreds of outlets appeared. Tolo TV was launched by the Moby Group in 2004, the Pajhwok agency the same year, Hasht-e Subh in 2007 and Etilaat Roz in 2012, bringing genuine investigative journalism.
Dari, Pashto, English: how to choose?
Dari, the Afghan variety of Persian, and Pashto are the two official languages and dominate the press. Many sites also publish in English. Reading Persian lets you follow the Iranian press, which covers neighbouring Afghanistan extensively.
Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif: local news
Provincial radio stations, often linked to the Salam Watandar network, long carried local news in Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif. Many have closed since 2021, and news from the provinces now comes mainly through national outlets' correspondents.
Khaama Press, Pajhwok and online news
Khaama Press, created in 2010, and Pajhwok Afghan News publish online in English and the national languages. Facebook, YouTube and X remain key channels, while broadcasters' apps let users follow TV news bulletins on their smartphones.
Bakhtar, the state agency since 1939
The Bakhtar agency, founded in 1939, is the official news agency. Controlled since August 2021 by the Islamic Emirate, it distributes the decrees of the Taliban supreme leader, ministry statements and visits by foreign delegations to Kabul.
RTA, TOLOnews and Afghan television
Radio Television Afghanistan, the public broadcaster, relays the Taliban authorities' messaging. TOLOnews, the first rolling news channel, and Ariana News still broadcast from Kabul under heavy constraints. Their websites offer bulletins, debates and live streams in Dari and Pashto.
London, Washington, Paris: newsrooms in exile
After 2021, many journalists left the country. Afghanistan International broadcasts from London, Amu TV and KabulNow work from abroad, and Hasht-e Subh and Etilaat Roz publish outside Afghanistan, relying on clandestine sources inside.
The afghani, humanitarian aid and cricket
Economic news is dominated by the afghani's exchange rate, international aid, mining and cross-border trade, also followed by the Pakistani press. Cricket is a passion: reaching the semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup made front pages everywhere.
Women journalists and the rules imposed since 2021
Since the Taliban returned in August 2021, media have operated under strict rules. Female presenters have had to cover their faces since 2022, many women have lost their jobs, and restrictions on images of living beings apply in several provinces.
Weighing Kabul against the diaspora
Afghan sites are free. For a balanced reading, compare a Kabul outlet such as TOLOnews, an exile outlet such as Amu TV and an international agency. The Asian press adds a regional perspective on Central Asia.
No French-language titles: what are the alternatives?
There is no French-language Afghan press. French-speaking readers turn to the English editions of Khaama Press, Ariana News or KabulNow, to the Dari and Pashto services of international radio stations, or to machine translation tools.
Following Afghan news step by step
- Read the English editions of TOLOnews or Ariana News to see the news being broadcast from Kabul.
- Compare with an exile outlet such as Amu TV, KabulNow or Afghanistan International for a critical view.
- Consult Bakhtar to read the decrees and official announcements of the Taliban authorities.
- Follow Pajhwok or Khaama Press for news from the provinces, from Herat to Kandahar.
- Subscribe to newsrooms' YouTube channels or X accounts to receive their TV bulletins.
- Check the date and origin of videos, which are often recycled from events before 2021.
Access and subscriptions for Afghan media
| Media type | Access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kabul channels (TOLOnews, Ariana News) | Free online | Websites in Dari, Pashto and English |
| Exile media (Amu TV, KabulNow, Afghanistan International) | Free | Funded by donations or donors |
| Private agencies (Pajhwok, Khaama Press) | Mostly free | Professional services sometimes paid, price varies |
| Bakhtar agency | Free | Official communication |
| RTA, public radio and television | Free streaming | Controlled by the authorities in Kabul |
Practical facts about the Afghan press
- Languages: Dari and Pashto; English on most major sites
- News agency: Bakhtar News Agency
- Public broadcasting: RTA, Radio Television Afghanistan
- Leading private channel: TOLOnews; independent agency: Pajhwok Afghan News
- Time zone: UTC+4:30, no daylight saving time
- Currency: afghani (AFN)
Frequent mistakes with Afghan media
- Sharing a video of Kabul from before August 2021 as if it showed the current situation.
- Reading Bakhtar or RTA without remembering that they relay the official messaging of the Taliban authorities.
- Assuming an exile outlet has direct access to every province, when it often depends on anonymous sources.
- Confusing Dari with Iranian Farsi to the point of attributing an Iranian article to an Afghan outlet.
- Trusting a fake X account imitating a ministry or a well-known Afghan newsroom.
Your questions about Afghanistan's media
Which Afghan media still work from Kabul?
TOLOnews, Ariana News and the Pajhwok agency continue to publish from Kabul under rules set by the Taliban authorities. The public broadcaster RTA and the Bakhtar agency relay official messaging. These outlets remain useful for following domestic news day to day.
What are the main Afghan media in exile?
Afghanistan International, based in London, Amu TV, KabulNow, Hasht-e Subh and Etilaat Roz are among the most followed. They publish in Persian, Pashto and often English, and rely on anonymous correspondents who have stayed in the country.
In which language should you read the Afghan press?
Dari and Pashto dominate, but most major sites also publish in English: TOLOnews, Ariana News, Khaama Press, Pajhwok and KabulNow. An English speaker can therefore follow most Afghan news without knowing the national languages.
Can women still work in Afghan media?
Yes, but under heavy restrictions. Since 2022, female presenters have had to cover their faces on air, and many women have left the profession. Several exile outlets, such as Amu TV, employ Afghan women journalists and give special coverage to their rights.
Afghan media online, from Kabul to newsrooms in exile
- TOLOnewsAfghanistan's leading 24-hour news channel, whose website covers politics, the economy, sport and society.
- Ariana NewsKabul-based Afghan news channel with an English website covering politics, the economy and sport.
- Khaama PressOnline Afghan news agency, one of the country's oldest, publishing in English and Persian.
- Afghanistan InternationalLondon-based Afghan news channel offering critical coverage of the Taliban regime and Afghan society.
- Hasht-e Subh (8am)Former major Kabul daily now an online outlet in exile, known for its investigations into the Taliban.
- KabulNowIndependent Afghan outlet in exile, in English and Persian, covering human rights, politics and security.
- Amu TVIndependent Afghan outlet in exile, a TV channel and website covering news and Afghan women's rights.