The Kabul Times was established during the Kingdom of Mohammad Zahir in line with the instruction of Prime Minister Sardar Mohammad Daud on February 27 1962 with Sabahudin Kuskkaki as its editor-in-chief. At the beginning, The Kabul Times newspaper was published as gazette in five columns and three times a week.
Later on, Kushkaki was replaced by Sayed Khalil, a communication engineer by profession but with little experience on media.
After some time, Shafi Rahil who studied journalism in the USA replaced Sayed Khalil in 1965 and continued the post until 1974.
In 1978, Noor Mohammad Rahimi a graduate of journalism from USA was appointed as editor-in-chief of the Kabul Times but was replaced with Kazim Ahang following the communist Coup in 1978.
The Kabul Times had been changed into New Kabul Times after the former Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan. During the Soviet Union occupation of Afghanistan, Kazem Ahang, Mohammad Azam Rahnaward, Rahim Rafat, Abdul Aziz Daneshyar, Qudus Lemar, Wahid Mardan, Karim Haquq and Mohammad Qabul had served as the editor in chief of The Kabul Times respectively.
During Najibullah’s rule, Seddiq Rahpo, Abdul Ghafor Shokouri, and Ali Gul Paiwand had led The Kabul Times.
During the civil war and rule of mujaheddin, the newspaper of The Kabul Times had remained suspended for one year and later resumed publishing once a week. Sayed Naser Shah and Saboor Raheel were its editor-in-chief.
During Taliban rule, The Kabul Times had remained suspended for sometimes but later resumed publishing once a week. Sarwar Saddiqmal, Enayatullah Kaka Zada, Isa Khan Tasal and Suhail Shaheen were editor-in-chiefs of The Kabul Times. However with the collapse of Taliban regime and induction of provisional administration, for the third time the publishing of Kabul Times remained suspended for a while but in the month Hamal of 1381 resumed publishing once a week but in 1382 it was published three times a week.
On Hamal 19, 1385 The Kabul Times become newspaper and since then being published as newspaper.
Abdul Haq Waleh had served as editor in chief for six years until 1386 later he was replaced by Dr. Mohammad Zahir Sediq who run the newspaper from 1387 to 1389.
In Hamal 1390 Shafiq Ahmadzai succeeded Zahir Sediq as editor in chief and had led The Kabul Times till Saratan 1392, but was replaced by Najiba Maram who acted as acting editor in chief.
On February 17, 2014, Mr. Hamidullah Arefi became Editor-in-Chief of The Kabul Times and still working for the daily.
The Kabul Times has been reflecting the policies of the governments since its establishment. For example during King Zahir Shah’s rule it had reflected the kingdom’s administration policy and during Mohammad Daud’s presidency defended its policy.
The Daily Kabul Times had also followed the policies of the ex-Soviet Union’s backed regimes during their reign and later defended Mujahideen and Taliban’s regimes.
However, The Kabul Times in the post-Taliban era reflects the viewpoints of the citizens since the induction of interim administration led by president Karzai in 2001.