Taliban urges media to reflect its version of Afghanistan’s ‘realities’

The Taliban administration has once again called on the media to reflect its preferred account of Afghanistan’s situation to the public and the international community, in a move that continues its efforts to steer media coverage.

Mujahir Farahi, deputy minister for publications at the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, made the remarks at a seminar in Faryab province on improving the intellectual, ideological and professional capacities of journalists. He said the media play a bridging role in relations between the people and the administration.

According to him, journalists and media officials should convey the country’s “current realities” to the public and the international community accurately, responsibly and comprehensively. He did not provide further details on how this should be reflected.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture is one of the main bodies overseeing media affairs in Afghanistan, and comments by its officials on how the media should operate have direct importance for journalists and media organizations.