Khaama Press
Khaama Press is an online news agency based in Afghanistan. It was established in October 2010 in Kabul by Khushnood Nabizada, an Afghan journalist and entrepreneur. The agency publishes content in three languages: English, Pashto, and Persian.
History
Khaama Press was established in October 2010 by Afghan journalist Khushnood Nabizada. Initially focused on publishing profiles of notable Afghan personalities, the outlet expanded into general news coverage after receiving an operating license from Afghanistan's Ministry of Information and Culture.The name "Khaama" derives from the ancient Persian word for "pen," symbolizing the role of writing in information dissemination. The agency operates on a 24-hour basis and publishes in English, Pashto, and Persian.
Recognition and archiving
The United States Library of Congress has included Khaama Press in its Web Archives Collection, archiving the agency's coverage of elections and political events in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan since 2014.According to Afghanistan's Access to Information Commission, Khaama Press was the most visited news website in Afghanistan in 2020. As of 2025, the agency reports over 3 million monthly visitors to its website.
Khaama Press reporting has been referenced by international human rights organizations and cited in official U.S. government reports, including the U.S. State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Afghanistan.
Coverage areas
Khaama Press covers Afghan political developments, security issues, economic trends, human rights, and social affairs. The agency also reports on regional and international news affecting Afghanistan and neighboring countries.Security incidents and challenges
2014 office bombing
In February 2014, the Hakim Naser Khusraw Balkhi Building, which houses Khaama Press's office in Kabul, was targeted in a suicide bombing.2021 assassination attempt on founder
On 1 February 2021, founder Khushnood Nabizada survived an assassination attempt when his armored vehicle was targeted by an improvised explosive device in Kabul's 10th police district while he was traveling to work. Nabizada was serving as chief of staff to Afghanistan's State Ministry for Peace at the time.Nabizada and two of his children were in the vehicle when the explosion occurred, but no one in the vehicle sustained physical injuries. The attack was condemned by the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, with Chargé d'Affaires Ross Wilson calling for an end to such violence.
State Minister for Peace Sadat Mansoor Naderi condemned the attack, calling the level of violence "not acceptable for the people of Afghanistan" amidst ongoing peace efforts.
2021 attack on journalist
On 28 October 2021, Abdul Khaliq Hussaini, a journalist for Khaama Press, was attacked in Kabul by two unidentified gunmen while traveling to a U.N. office. According to the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee and Committee to Protect Journalists, Hussaini was physically assaulted with punches and rifle butts, and sustained injuries including a gunshot wound to his head and shoulder. He was hospitalized overnight for treatment. The Taliban reportedly detained two suspects following the incident.2024 detention of editor-in-chief
On 17 February 2024, Mansoor Nekmal, the editor-in-chief of Khaama Press, was arrested by the Taliban's Ministry of Vice and Virtue after being summoned to the ministry. According to the Afghanistan Journalist Center, the arrest followed accusations that Khaama Press had published content contrary to Islamic values.The charges stemmed from a video report published on 15 February 2024 that featured interviews with women in Kabul who were not fully adhering to the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic dress code, with some having their hair partially visible. The report also referenced concerns from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and Rina Amiri, the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights, regarding recent arrests of women for hijab violations in Kabul.
Nekmal was released on 18 February 2024, after approximately 24–36 hours in detention. The incident was documented by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom in its August 2024 Afghanistan Country Update as an example of the Taliban's repression of journalists reporting on religious decrees.
Operations under Taliban rule
Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, Afghan media outlets have faced significant restrictions. According to Reporters Without Borders, Afghanistan lost approximately 40 percent of its media outlets and an estimated 60 percent of its journalists within the first year of Taliban rule.Khaama Press has continued publishing under these conditions, though operating conditions for Afghan media have become significantly more constrained.