Publication

During the Taliban period, the only media in Afghanistan were Radio Sharia and a few government-produced religious publications. On the heels of a war that ousted the Taliban, international investment in Afghanistan’s communication technologies spurred an aggressive build-out of TV, radio, print, and Internet outlets. Hopes soared that donor investment would propagate a free and independent media sector that would support great social and political change for the benefit of Afghans. Nine years later, these hopes have given way to disappointment. It is essential, therefore, to reassess the media landscape and reevaluate how the media can best be employed as a tool for peacebuilding in Afghanistan.