Analysts echo Karzai claim of racism against media

KABUL): A number of analysts say President Hamid Karzai is right in his claim that some TV channels have been involved in spreading linguistic and ethnic differences in Afghanstan.

At a conference “Development of Salang Pass for next 50 years,” in Kabul a day earlier Karzai said those involved in spreading differences among Afghan communities should be dealt in accordance with the law.

He called on media outlets, particularly television channels, to avoid fueling such prejudices and instead work to strengthening national unity.

Ahmad Saeed, an analyst, said the president was hinting at Jwandon Television when he made his latest remarks about media organizations. He told Pajhwok Afghan News the government was yet to frame any law tighting grip over media organizations and that was why such malicious drive could not be controlled.

Afghanistan‘s Regional Studies Centre head, Abdul Ghafoor Lewal, said President Hamid Karzai was right in castigating some media outlets spreading bigotry.

He said Afghans were now aware and no one could create gulf in their ranks and unity.

Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, writer and analyst, while supporting President Karzai’s viewpoint, said the president should have raised the issue years ago to rein in the media outlets.

Not only media outlets, but some political and cultural organizations, Wolesi Jirga members, Cabinet ministers and officials were also involved in discrimination among Afghans and fuelling prejudices.

Note: Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) removes a quote of Mr Ghafoor Lewal of Afghanistan’s Regional Studies Centre from this story, who had accused TOLO TV of ‘spreading linguistic and ethnic fanaticism’. Mr Lewal had also alleged that ‘TOLO TV was backed by foreign countries such as Iran and Pakistan’. Adding such a quote in this story was totally out of context and didn’t meet PAN’s editorial standards. PAN understands that President Karzai’s recent remarks about media didn’t have anything to do with TOLO TV’s coverage. PAN apologies for any misunderstanding it may have caused.

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