The first book printed in Afghanistan is believed to have been an anti-Wahhabi tract published in 1871. Between 1871 and 1900 some 43 books were published. However, in subsequent decades the number of printing houses remained small, with just 1,300 titles printed between 1900 and 1978 (including 400 between 1951 and 1965), mainly by the government printing houses.

Very few books were published in Afghanistan after 1989 due to the escalating war between rival Mujahideen factions and the subsequent ascendancy of the Taliban. Throughout this period thousands of books from Kabul Central Library and the University of Kabul Library were burned for being ‘un-Islamic’ (ie books in foreign languages and any books with pictures, particularly those with the former king’s picture as a frontispiece). Much of what was left at Kabul Central Library was finished off when a rocket struck the building, killing a library worker and starting a fire. However, the Taliban did commission the printing of many new Islamic books in Quetta and Peshawar (Pakistan) for distribution in Afghan mosques and Islamic schools.

The largest government printing house, Ariana Press, was also hit by a rocket during the wars, damaging the main building and destroying most of its printing machinery. Today only some very old printing presses which had been housed in surrounding buildings are still in operation there.

Most of the books printed since 2002 are political, religious or legal in nature, but a growing interest in literature has also created a demand for poetry books. As yet comparatively little fiction is published..

Since the formation of transitional government at the beginning of 2002, several new printers have sprung up in Kabul, equipped with Pakistani and Iranian printing machines. The quality of printing is satisfactory but poor quality paper is generally used to keep the costs down. However, most state-owned printing and publishing companies still require accessible investment capital, modern equipment and efficient management to produce and compete in the current markets. The new Investment Law adopted by the Afghan Government allows 100 per cent foreign ownership of Afghan enterprises and there is currently a move towards promoting privatisation and corporatisation of these companies.

UNESCO is currently helping to establish an independent printing plant and distribution network with a view to seeking to furthering the development of independent print media.

A noteworthy project, funded by New York University and managed by the Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, has begun the development of the Afghanistan Digital Library with a view to making available on the Internet books that may have been destroyed or dispersed from libraries in Afghanistan in the course of 25 years of civil war. In the pilot phase of the project, efforts will be made to locate, digitise and place on a website the 43 books known to have been published between 1871 and 1900. The books will be downloadable and therefore freely available to researchers throughout the world.