Rahe Farda TV, a private channel linked to Professor Mohammad Mohaqiq, has been shut down by Taliban authorities. On March 1, Taliban forces reportedly raided the channel’s main office in Kabul. Staff members were taken into custody and allegedly subjected to physical abuse. Broadcasting equipment was seized, and eyewitnesses say the building was sealed, bringing all of the channel’s operations to a complete halt.
Established in 2006, Rahe Farda TV had a reputation for critically covering Afghanistan’s political developments, social issues, and government policies. Analysts say the closure is a major setback for press freedom in Afghanistan and highlights growing restrictions on independent media.
Sources close to Mohammad Mohaqiq claim his recent remarks condemning terrorism in Pakistan and calling for regional peace were misrepresented. Some factions reportedly used his statements as a pretext to justify the raid and the channel’s shutdown.
The Taliban have not released an official statement regarding the closure. Observers note that pressure on independent media and critical voices in Afghanistan has increased over recent months. Human rights organizations and press advocacy groups have voiced serious concern, urging authorities to protect media institutions and uphold the right to free expression.
Political analysts warn that this development could have broader consequences beyond Afghanistan’s internal politics. It may impact diplomatic relations in the region, especially at a time when security tensions are already high. The closure of Rahe Farda TV adds to concerns about freedom of speech and independent journalism in a country where critical reporting has increasingly faced challenges.
The shutdown serves as a reminder of the fragile state of media freedoms in Afghanistan. For citizens, journalists, and observers, it raises pressing questions about how independent voices can continue to operate and report in the country amid growing restrictions.
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