Taliban militants on Monday issued a warning to Afghan media agencies and publications not to air or publish advertisements against the group.
The militant group’s military commission in a statement tweeted by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said agencies including TV channels, radio stations and publications airing ads against the Taliban have one week to stop.
“Otherwise they will no longer be identified as media but military targets.’’ Mujahid said.
He added that paid government ads against the Taliban are aired and published throughout Afghanistan, either calling for people to report suspicious activities to security forces or inciting people to not support the group.
The Taliban said such ads curb public opinion against the group and the “enemy (the Afghan government) uses these media agencies for intelligence purposes.’’
According to Nai, an Afghan media advocacy organisation, nine Taliban-related media incidents have taken place since the beginning of the year, with one journalist killed, one injured, six threats issued and one attack carried out.
dpa/NAN
