Gov’t to Increase Political Support From Journalists, Media

Afghan second vice-president, Sarwar Danish in the first session of Joint Committee for Journalism Institutions said that the National Unity Government (NUG) will increase its political support from journalists and media outlets in Afghanistan.

Sarwar Danish warned that if the current achievements deal in the peace process, this peace is worse than the war for Afghanistan.

“The government is obliged to support journalists and media outlets, and the National Unity Government is committed to continue support from journalists,” said Sarwar Danish, second vice-president.

Danish also considered the deal of the past decade achievements in reconciliation process is worse than war against Taliban.

The increase of 60 % in violence against journalists in the first six months of the current year has made the journalism institutions distressed.

“The cases of journalists should seriously be investigated. Violence have increased,” said Fahim Dashti, member of Joint Committee for coordination between media and government.

Faizullah Zaki, deputy of National Security Council said, “I assure that we will try to implement all actions regarding the issue.”

This comes as that National Union of Journalists in Afghanistan says 39 cases of violence against journalists recorded until this season, but now it reaches to 69 cases.

Violence against journalists in Afghanistan seriously limits media freedom in the country, affecting the work of civil society organizations (CSOs) and reducing the efficiency of development efforts in the country.

Afghanistan’s budding media industry has seen significant progress in the past 14 years, with over 800 newspapers, 175 radio stations and about 80 television channels.