KABUL): The Afghan Media Watch on Friday warned that some local media outlets could possibly come under influence of intelligence agencies in neighbouring countries if the international community stopped supporting them beyond 2014.
Sidqullah Tawhidi, who runs the organisation that monitors violence and other offenses against journalists, told a gathering in Kabul that there were rumours foreign countries would stop funding Afghan media outlets after 2014, a deadline for foreign soldiers’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, will start controlling some of the outlets to use them for creating crises in the country," Tawhidi feared.
Since independent media outlets are critical of the current Afghan government, they had no support from the government, he said, asking reporters to adhere to ethics.
Also present on the occasion was deputy information and culture minister, Mubarez Rashidi, who said the number of media outlets had considerably increased in the country over the past few years.
However, he said the media should be careful while fulfilling its social responsibilities.
Rashidi also urged media outlets to work for the capacity-building of journalists and promised all-out support in this regard.
German Ambassador to Afghanistan Rudiger Konig said his country would declare its assistance with the Afghan government at the Tokyo conference taking place in July.
He said although the international fraternity was helping Afghanistan, the Kabul government should also work sincerely to improve the living conditions for its citizens.
frm/ma
Visits: 2
GET IN TOUCH
NEWSLETTER
SUGGEST A STORY
PAJHWOK MOBILE APP