A deputy minister in the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture has called on Afghan media outlets to prepare and broadcast programs highlighting what the group describes as the achievements of its five years in power.
According to Mohajer Farahi, media organizations should not only cover ceremonies marking the 24 Asad anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power but also produce a range of programs about what the group refers to as the “20-year occupation” of Afghanistan, saying such content would help inform both the Afghan public and the international community.
Farahi also urged media outlets to give broad coverage to what he described as the “wrong actions of the Pakistani military” toward the people of Afghanistan.
The appeal comes as the Taliban continue to face criticism over restrictions on press freedom since returning to power. Media rights organizations have repeatedly reported that content restrictions, the detention of journalists and censorship have significantly narrowed the operating environment for independent media in Afghanistan.
The Taliban maintain that they have strengthened security and advanced reconstruction efforts during the past five years. Critics, however, dispute those claims, pointing to persistent poverty, extensive restrictions on civil liberties—particularly the rights of women and girls—and continued pressure on independent media.
The differing assessments reflect the continuing divide between the Taliban’s official narrative and the views expressed by many Afghan civil society groups, international organizations and media watchdogs.
