Khaama Press

Khaama Press (Pashto: خامه پرس خبری آژانس; Persian: خبرگزاری خامه پرس) is one of the prominent online news service agenices for Afghanistan, established in October 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan, by Khushnood Nabizada, an Afghan journalist and entrepreneur.

Khaama Press operates in three languages: English, Pashto, and Persian.

History
Khaama Press was established in October 2010 by Afghan journalist and entrepreneur Khushnood Nabizada. Conceived initially to showcase stories of successful Afghan personalities and the biographies of notable figures, Khaama Press evolved into a news service following the positive feedback it garnered and an official operating license from the Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan.

Named after the ancient Persian word for "The Pen," Khaama Press symbolizes the power of writing and information dissemination. It has grown into the largest English news service in Afghanistan, delivering news in English, Pashto, and Persian.

Impact and recognition
Khaama Press is recognized for its extensive coverage of security issues in Afghanistan, including reporting on terrorist activities, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary arrests.

The reporting by Khaama Press extends to critical incidents affecting the Afghan populace, including terrorist attacks and explosions.

Challenges
In February 2014, the Hakim Naser Khusraw Balkhi Building, which houses Khaama Press's office, was targeted in a suicide bombing.

In February 2021, Khushnood Nabizada, the founder and president of Khaama Press, was targeted in a roadside bomb explosion but was unharmed.

On 28 October 2021, Abdul Khaliq Hussaini, a journalist for Khaama Press, was subjected to a violent attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. According to reports from the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee and Khaama Press, Hussaini was ambushed by two unidentified gunmen while driving to the office of the U.N. Assistance Mission. The attackers physically assaulted him, using punches and the butts of their rifles, resulting in injuries to his head and shoulder, including a gunshot wound. Hussaini managed to escape and was hospitalized overnight for his injuries. Following the incident, the Taliban reportedly detained two suspects.

On 17 February 2024, Mansoor Nekmal, the editor-in-chief of Khaama Press, was arrested by the Ministry of Vice and Virtue of the Taliban. The arrest came after accusations of publishing content against Islamic values, particularly regarding a video report from 15 February 2024, that featured interviews with women not fully adhering to the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic hijab, with their hair partially visible.