Taliban crackdown drives 677 Afghan journalists abroad

Freedom of the press in Afghanistan has deteriorated sharply under Taliban rule, with hundreds of journalists forced to flee the country amid growing restrictions, intimidation and threats, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.

According to a new report by the international media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, a record number of Afghan journalists have gone into exile. The report revealed that 677 Afghan journalists, affected by repression and security threats, are now living in 28 countries around the world after being forced to leave their homeland.

RSF said the pressure on journalists has remained intense in recent years. The organisation reported that 183 journalists left Afghanistan in 2022, while a further 82 departed in 2025 as conditions for independent reporting continued to worsen.

According to the watchdog, many journalists now face only three options: abandoning their profession, leaving the country or risking imprisonment. The organisation warned that restrictions imposed by the Taliban have severely limited both media and public freedoms.

The report also stated that five Afghan journalists remain in Taliban custody. RSF said the authorities continue to tighten control over the media landscape, making it increasingly difficult for reporters to carry out their work freely and safely.

Célia Mercier, head of RSF’s South Asia desk, said Afghanistan’s media sector is experiencing systematic repression, extensive restrictions and strict control by the authorities. She warned that independent journalism is under unprecedented pressure.

Media experts echoed those concerns, arguing that Afghan journalists are paying a heavy price for reporting facts and speaking openly. They said many reporters now face imprisonment, enforced silence or exile simply for carrying out their professional duties.

Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor