JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 08, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK - The Committee to Protect Journalists has strongly condemned the attack on a television station Tuesday in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Gunmen and suicide bombers attacked Shamshad TV, a leading Pashto-language station, killing one security guard and injuring at least 20 people including television staffers, Shamshad TV’s CEO and broadcast director, Nasim Pakhtoon, told CPJ.
“The attack on Shamshad TV is an assault not just on one television station, but on press freedom in Afghanistan,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler from Washington D.C. “The Afghan government must do everything in its power to provide security for journalists and media workers.”
According to news reports, three attackers wearing police uniforms entered the Shamshad TV compound; one detonated his suicide vest at the compound gate. The other two attackers entered the building as employees fled from a different exit, according to The New York Times, which quoted the deputy spokesperson for the Afghan Interior Ministry, Nasrat Rahimi.
Most of Shamshad TV’s 150 employees safely escaped the building, according to The New York Times.
The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors websites used by violent extremist groups, reported that the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack in a statement and said terrorists would not be able to restrict the media through such acts of violence, according to local reports.
Some of the injured have been receiving treatment at a government hospital, Ilias Alami, operations manager at the Afghan Journalist Safety Committee, told CPJ. Alami also said the casualties could have been much higher if not for the building’s alternate exit routes and the station’s large compound.
Shamshad TV, which broadcasts news and entertainment programs via satellite, resumed broadcasting a few hours after the attack, Pakhtoon said. Journalists in Afghanistan continue to face security threats from non-state actors, CPJ research shows. In May, two media workers were killed in a bombing in Kabul and, in a separate incident the same month, the Islamic State attacked a state television station in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, killing six people. - CPJ news alert
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.