As the Taliban continue to reject international human rights findings, their latest actions in eastern Afghanistan appear to directly validate the very accusations they condemn.
Local sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban authorities in the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, and Laghman are forcing independent radio stations to air pro-Taliban propaganda on August 15, the day the group marks as its “victory” over the former government and foreign forces.
Media managers in the region reported being threatened with consequences if they refused to comply. According to sources, the Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture instructed these stations to invite anti-republic analysts, use inflammatory language to discredit the former government, and dedicate their programming solely to Taliban narratives.
While the group already controls state media, it has now demanded that independent outlets broadcast Taliban-scripted content, without any form of payment. Previous promises of compensation were never fulfilled, forcing already struggling stations to absorb the cost. Some media outlets said they feel compelled to obey to avoid being shut down or accused of vague “violations.”
In Nangarhar, specific warnings were issued: any station refusing to comply would face programming restrictions or worse. Journalists, speaking under condition of anonymity, described a climate of fear and coercion, where Taliban officials regularly visit stations, review their schedules, and interfere with editorial decisions.
This isn’t the first time the group has used media as a tool of authoritarian control. Last year in Jalalabad, all private radio and TV outlets were ordered to exclusively broadcast Taliban songs and content celebrating the fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021.
Despite loudly rejecting the recent UNAMA and UN Human Rights Office report, which documents arbitrary detention, censorship, and threats against journalists and civil society, the Taliban’s behaviour continues to offer real-world proof of those exact abuses.
While they summoned UNAMA officials in Kabul to protest the report, their crackdown on media independence in the eastern provinces reveals a reality they seemingly can’t or won’t conceal: a regime intolerant of dissent, hostile to press freedom, and eager to rewrite history, even if it means confirming the very human rights allegations they claim are false.
