When Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021, people remained anxious and bewildered in their homes. In the first few days, no one approached the Taliban because the new generation, who had not seen the Taliban in the past twenty years, only recognized them as the media had portrayed them. Under the shadow of occupation, media propaganda depicted the Taliban as savages, murderers, bloodthirsty, exiled from their homes and villages and detested. Therefore, the residents of urban areas were also astonished by them. However, after just a few days, the true nature and appearance of the Taliban became clear to the people, they approached them and embraced them.
The Taliban established a caretaker government in Afghanistan, took control of the rule, but a major psychological and media war against them continues. Efforts are still being made outside the country to present a distorted image of the caretaker government, portraying Afghanistan as unsafe and full of danger. In this context, some countries, organizations and foundations want to keep Afghanistan under pressure for their political goals and rivalries, which is why they depict its situation inaccurately.
Among the organizations, the United Nations and its entities, UNAMA and the Security Council, are noteworthy. The Security Council is under the influence of the five powerful countries of the world (the USA, Russia, China, France and the UK), each pursuing its own interests. Some countries in this council interpret the situation in Afghanistan according to their own agendas, often publishing reports based on incorrect information about Afghanistan’s security crisis, terrorism, and human rights. They ignore the realities, social achievements and positive changes in the country. This organization and the Security Council largely base their reports on Western media, non-governmental organizations and diplomatic sources, which are largely under the direct and indirect influence of the United Nations and do not accurately reflect the reality of Afghanistan.
UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) has been operating in Afghanistan for decades, with its main objectives being the monitoring of human rights, humanitarian assistance and peace efforts. However, UNAMA often gives extensive coverage to certain negative issues regarding Afghanistan and deliberately conceals some matters; it publishes numerous reports and rumors about human rights, women’s rights and freedom of expression, but on the other hand, it employs willful ignorance regarding Afghanistan’s economic development, security stability and many other achievements, giving them very little attention.
Some international media and research institutions, international political and intelligence groups like NATO, the intelligence agencies of the USA and Europe, international non-governmental organizations like Amnesty International and many others work towards a single goal (pressure and propaganda) regarding Afghanistan. The governments of some countries also make similar efforts and reflect the situation in Afghanistan according to their political and economic interests, not based on the actual circumstances.
People from other countries are not familiar with the true situation in Afghanistan; they only receive information disseminated by international media, much of which is incomplete or biased. International media reports on Afghanistan’s wars, poverty and crises, but deliberately ignores aspects of progress, cultural values and the real lives of the people.
Some foundations, organizations, and research media also publish arbitrary and mocking statistics about Afghanistan, which lack a clear basis, are fictional and propagandistic in nature, and contradict all realities.
Note: The articles, essays, and comments published in Hindukush Voice only reflect the views of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the agreement of Hindukush Voice.
