The media, as one of the fundamental pillars of information dissemination and awareness-raising, bear the crucial responsibility of conveying realities and educating society. This responsibility goes beyond mere information dissemination and includes religious, social, and ethical missions as well.
But when a media outlet like Afghanistan International (rightly called Satan International) becomes a tool for distortion, lying, incitement, and propaganda, it can no longer be considered a credible news source.
This media outlet not only fails to adhere to neutrality and professional journalistic principles, but it has also repeatedly published fabricated and reversed news, only to later contradict itself with another report.
Afghanistan International, instead of providing fair analyses and documented news, is more focused on exacerbating ethnic, linguistic, and religious divisions in Afghanistan. This network never reflects the news of the country’s development, reconstruction, and progress, completely covering it up, and all its content is centered on destruction, blackening, and negative propaganda. Such an approach indicates the political and biased targeting of this media outlet, which has no commitment to transparency and truth-seeking.
One of the biggest weaknesses of this network is the frequent dissemination of fake news and then its implicit denial in the future. It has often happened that this media outlet published a sensational news story, but after a while, when it became clear that the news was reversed and false, it replaced it with another news story without accepting responsibility. This behavior clearly demonstrates this media outlet’s lack of commitment to the truth and its exploitation of the information space to manipulate public opinion.
A real media outlet should provide a platform for the clash of opinions and the hearing of diverse views, but the experts of Satan International do not allow the expression of opposing viewpoints at all. In the talk shows of this network, if a guest presents opinions contrary to its predetermined agenda, their speech is either interrupted or distorted and manipulated by the hosts.
Such unethical and unprofessional behavior is completely similar to authoritarian and controlled media that only seek to disseminate a specific and predetermined narrative.
Another noteworthy point about this media outlet is its lack of use of credible sources and reliance on vague and dubious reports.
Many of International’s reports are published without specifying exact sources or cite unknown and unverifiable sources. This method is a clear example of a propaganda media outlet, whose aim is not to inform but to mislead.
Despite all these media violations, it is surprising how Afghanistan International is nominated for international media awards? The question arises whether the criteria for selecting these awards are based on professional journalism standards or on specific political interests and policies?
Recently, One World Media announced that Afghanistan International TV has been nominated for the Press Freedom Award 2025 and will proceed to the judging stage for this award.
This action is another example of double standards and contradictory criteria in evaluating the media. How can a media outlet that has repeatedly been accused of spreading lies, propaganda, distorting facts, and creating division be deemed worthy of receiving the “Freedom of the Press” award.
This behavior is not only unprofessional but also legitimizes media outlets that sacrifice truth for political goals. Such actions undermine the credibility of media awards and show that in some cases, media awards are granted not based on merit but on behind-the-scenes politics and specific interests.
Afghanistan International, instead of being a real news media outlet, has become a tool for propaganda and psychological warfare against the people of Afghanistan. Its one-sided focus on crises, the dissemination of unverified news, distortion of facts, and suppression of dissenting opinions have transformed this network from an independent media outlet into a propaganda and destructive agency.
Afghanistan is in a situation where it needs free, responsible, and committed media; not media that merely serve the purposes of lying, spreading hatred, and undermining national unity.
A media outlet that people do not trust will inevitably meet the fate of all propaganda agencies: destruction and complete discredit.
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.
