The Kabul Times’ 55th anniversary

Monday, February 27, 2017

Kabul (BNA) This year, The Kabul Times daily marks 55th year of establishment. The Daily was initially established on Feb 27 of 1962 during the reign of late King Mohammad Zahir Shah, under the order by the then prime minister late Mohammad Daud Khan with Sabahuddin Koshkaki as the first Editor-in Chief.
As the first reputable English newspaper, The Kabul Times appeared in the sky of the country’s press as a shining star and ever since has been reflecting the real face of Afghanistan, original culture, tradition and history to the world people.
In the beginning, The Kabul Times came out in five columns and three days a week and after a while it was developed to a normal newspaper. In that time it continued its activities as an enterprise in the framework of Bakhtar News Agency. Later on, Sayed Khalil was appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of The Kabul Times. Actually he was an engineer of communication and was well acquainted with English Language. Professional and skilled employees were supporting him.
In 1965, he was replaced with a USA trained journalist, Sayed Shafi Rahel, who remained in this position until 1974.
Another U.S. trained professional Journalist, Noor Mohammad Rahimi, then took over responsibility as the Editor-in-Chief in 1975 and replaced Rahel.
In 1978 in the wake of April coup, Mohammad Kazem Ahang who was a lecturer at the Faculty of Journalism, Kabul University, was appointed as chief editor of The Kabul Times.
Following the Red Army invasion to Afghanistan, The Kabul Times was changed to Kabul New Times and Aazam Rahnaward, Barna Asifi, Rahim Rafaat, Abdul Azizi Danishyar, Qadoos Lemar and Mohammad Qabol were appointed respectively as chief editors. During the late Dr. Najeebullah government, other individuals Siddique Rahpo, Abdul Ghafoor Shakoori were respectively appointed as chief editors of The Kabul New Times.
With the collapse of Dr. Najeebullah government and taking over of power by Afghan Mujahedeen, for a while Kabul New Times failed to publish, but later on appeared as a weekly and one of the media professional Abdul Saboor Raheel was appointed as the chief editor.
Azadi Liberty Printing Press was the only state run printing press transferred to Charikar, the provincial capital of Parwan, where the Kabul Times alongside other government newspapers were published. Following the collapse of Mujahidin and beginning of Taliban petrified rule, Enayatullah Kakazadah, Eisa Khan Tesel and Sohail Shaheen were appointed respectively chief editors of The Kabul Times.
With ousting of the Taliban from power by the US led international coalition and establishment of Interim Administration for the third time, The Kabul Times failed to come out for a while but, late March 2002, it resumed publication once a week. A young journalist Shoaib Sharifi was the acting chief editor.
On September 2002 one of the acknowledged writers, lawyers and journalists and former diplomat in London and Washington DC late Abdul Haq Waleh was picked up as the Editor-in-Chief and remained in this position for the next six years until his death in late march 2008. Under Waleh, quality changes took place in The Kabul Times, because he was personally working hard and writing up-to-date editorials. On Apr 8th of 2006 the Kabul was again changed to a daily newspaper.
Following the death of Waleh, another trained, educated and well-known journalists Dr. Mohammad Zaher Siddique who was holding PHD in journalism from one of the European countries, was appointed as the Editor-in-Chief.
After Dr. Zaher Siddique retirement in March 2011 Shafiq Ahmadzai was appointed as chief editor then he was replaced whit Ms. Najeeba Maram who was working as deputy chief editor.
In early 2014 Ms. Najeeba Maram was replaced by an active young journalist Hamidullah Arefi who is currently the Editor-in-Chief of The Kabul Times since early 2014.
Day by day our people are witnessing improvement of The Kabul Times quality due to hardworking of its staff and the paper has managed to hold its suitable place among the local media as today it will be celebrating its 55th establishment anniversary.
Since its establishment, The Kabul Times has been reflecting the current policies of the ruling regimes and standing governments and played its role as a national media.
The biggest difference appeared in Kabul Times since new government was formed in 2001, was reflecting problems, challenges and people complaints in different spheres of social, cultural, economical and political life.
The Kabul Times