Afghanistan’s thriving television channels prepare for a crackdown
The Taliban promise openness but some broadcasters have started self-censoring
MILLIONS OF AFGHANS tuned in to Tolo, a local broadcaster, to watch an interview on August 20th with Malala Yousafzai, a campaigner for girls’ education who won the Nobel peace prize after the Pakistani Taliban shot her in the head and nearly killed her. Soon afterwards an Afghan Taliban spokesman visited Tolo’s offices in Kabul for a two-hour discussion on the media and women’s rights. Rather than complain or issue threats, he promised that the new government would respect the freedom of the press.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Cutting Kabul’s cable”
From the September 4th 2021 edition
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