Dr. Kundan Aryal

Like just one-and-a half-decades ago in Nepal, journalists in Afghanistan today state that journalism is dangerous yet sacred profession for them. As the warring factions don't limit themselves to the gun, tanks and ammunition, communicators used to be trapped in between the crossfires in any war-torn country. Now after a complete takeover of power, the Taliban, the new rulers of the country, have declared that the war has ended but the Western media have been expressing grave concerns over the professional and material security of media institutions and journalists.

The political system shapes the media institutions, profession, freedom and the normative values. The Western media have depicted the Taliban as the enemy of press freedom. The journalists, both Afghani and foreign, were been reporting that they are at a great risk and feel unsafe mainly because of war. The locals were primarily in a vulnerable situation because their news and views were used to be detrimental to the Taliban or the US-backed Afghan government. In either case, they were compelled to face threats from both sides. Likewise, the Western media were threatened and attacked mainly because of their rhetoric against the Taliban and consistent support for NATO forces.

Safety concern
The Western media, which were reporting from Afghanistan with the cooperation of the US and NATO coalition forces, are now in the soup. When President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani left the country, leading to the collapse of his government as well as political system, the New York-based The Committee to Protect Journalists asked the US President to ensure the safety of Afghan journalists. When the US President addressed the nation informing about the offence of the Taliban, the publishers of the major US newspapers issued a joint statement asking him to take protective measures for their Afghan colleagues. The publishers of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post asked him to rescue them from there. Earlier this month, the US State Department had already announced a priority designation giving the US Refugee Admissions Programme access to Afghans employed by the US-based media organisations in Afghanistan.

The Western journalists and their local staff, especially the female ones, are facing security threats. As many as 53 journalists have been killed in that country in the last two decades. Five journalists lost their lives last year alone. However, the Taliban have shown gesture that they would allow the media to operate there smoothly. If they keep their word, the country will see the revival of journalism as seen prior to 1994.
The first Afghani newspaper, Shamsunahar, which stands for Sun Of The Day, started in 1873. Radio and television were launched in 1925 and 1978 respectively. The country has formulated a media law considered the best in South Asia in recent years and it has also made comprehensive legislation on the Right to Information. In principle, Afghan media law ensure the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas as enshrined by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Now, it is the obligation of the new regime to guarantee the safety of journalists. The local media people are anticipating the improved version of the Talibani regime. While President Ghani left Kabul, a senior Afghani media entrepreneur, in an interview with a public radio based in Louisiana State of the US, was optimistic about the Taliban’s media policy. Saad Mohseni, CEO of Moby Media Group, which runs Tolo News, Afghanistan's first 24-hour television network, the media would enjoy greater amount of freedom this time. One of the questions he had to repeatedly face was about the future of women journalists. The interviewer suspected that the Taliban might declare they would not want to see any female anchors on air.

Historic interview
Two days after his interview, a Taliban spokesman was, for the first time, interviewed by a female presenter from an Afghan TV. TOLO News anchor Beheshta Arghand’s talks show with Taliban spokesperson Mawlawi Abdulhaq Hemad marked a historic incident in which an Afghan woman interviewed a senior Taliban official within the territory. Saad informed the world about the historic interview through his tweet. He holds the view that the Taliban need to win hearts and minds of the people, and show the international community that the new regime is legitimate and that the world can work with the Taliban.

The Taliban have got a second chance to rebuild their image before the international community by paying respect to civic space, press freedom, and related democratic rights. To date, the country is ahead in the violent cases against media and is known as a dangerous place for journalists. If the Taliban are determined to serve the Afghani people, they must stop the wave of journalist killings in the country. If the Taliban want to prove that they are committed to universal human rights even within the limits of their Sharia laws, it ought to start a probe on killings of journalists during the war. Subsequently, it should start a process of justice and needful efforts of reparation for the families of the journalists, locals or foreigners, who were killed while performing their duty to inform the people.

Dr. Aryal is associated with the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of Tribhuvan University).