Journalism in Afghanistan: Current and post-2014 threats and journalist safety mechanisms

The emergence of free media is arguably one of the most significant achievements in the post- Taliban Afghanistan era. Afghanistan has endured three decades of invasions, uprisings and civil war, and yet, in the last ten years, a vibrant and increasingly professional media sector has grown almost from nothing. Today the country has hundreds of publications, dozens of TV and radio stations and several news agencies.

But Afghan journalists have paid a high price for such progress. They are routinely beaten, intimidated, threatened and denied information by all sides in the war.

Against this backdrop, and with uncertain times ahead following the pull-out of international troops in 2014, there is a need to address how the work to support free and independent media and create a safer working environment for media workers, so crucial to any democratic process, can be sustained post 2014.

This report seeks to provide a brief and immediate overview of the current insecure media environment in which Afghan journalists work and the threat scenario potentially facing them after the 2014 withdrawal of international troops. The aim of the report is to provide input into local and international discussions on what the focus of media development support should be in Afghanistan in future to ensure that Afghan media can play its crucial role in supporting peaceful and democratic development.

Publication cover photo: Lars Schmidt