RASC News Agency: The Taliban have issued directives to their media officials and spokespersons, instructing them to exclusively report on “progress” and “security improvements” in the country, effectively ensuring that all media coverage aligns with the group’s interests. During a “Coordination Meeting with Central Administration Spokespersons,” Zia Haqmal, head of the Bakhtar News Agency, the state-controlled media outlet under Taliban rule, emphasized that both state-owned and private media must actively collaborate in amplifying the Taliban’s so-called “achievements and advancements.”
Haqmal asserted that media organizations are obligated to report on these narratives, warning that any refusal to comply would result in severe restrictions. Similarly, Mohajer Farahi, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister for Publications at the Ministry of Information and Culture, declared that it is the “responsibility” of media spokespersons to “disseminate the truth”—which, according to him, equates to broadcasting their respective departments’ “achievements and progress.” He explicitly ordered that spokespersons must prioritize content that serves the Taliban’s interests.
Safiullah Raed, head of the Press and Media Oversight Department, insisted that the Taliban provide “comprehensive support” for media organizations so long as they conform to the group’s so-called “standards.” He acknowledged that only those outlets adhering to Taliban-approved editorial policies would receive any form of protection. The Taliban have imposed increasingly draconian restrictions on press freedom. In a recent report, Human Rights Watch cited testimonies from journalists revealing that Taliban intelligence officials have ordered media outlets to publish only content that aligns with the regime’s policies and to avoid reporting on state-perpetrated violence or abuses by Taliban officials.
During the latest meeting, Taliban authorities reinforced their absolute control over information, making it clear that any content deemed unfavorable to the regime must not be published. Over the past weeks, they have significantly intensified their grip on the press, imposing sweeping restrictions on news agencies and broadcasters. In their most recent directive, they have explicitly forbidden media organizations from publishing any news without prior consultation and approval from Taliban press authorities.
