It is an undeniable truth that NGOs and domestic private media are among the entities that not only fail to act as a barrier against the Taliban regime but consciously or unconsciously aid in the survival of this self-imposed and oppressive regime. However, it seems insignificant to these entities who hold political power. What matters is their ability to pursue their trade better than ever. These entities, seeking any excuse to operate under the shadow of Taliban rule, are somehow complicit in normalizing the tragedy that this group has brought upon the people of Afghanistan. Working under the shadow of the Taliban regime—even if these entities attempt to portray themselves as critics and opponents of this regime, which is no longer possible after more than two and a half years of Taliban rule and is merely a form of mockery and populist deception—not only is indefensible but also legitimizes a terrorist regime unwilling to take a single step back from its repressive and ultra-conservative laws and principles. Under the governance of the Taliban, formal activity may only be possible if one acquiesces to its oppressive, restrictive, and inhumane policies. Otherwise, individuals are faced with the option of imprisonment or forced exodus from the country.
Granting legitimacy to the Taliban Emirate is the first step in normalizing tragedy. In fact, by accepting work under the shadow of such a regime, entities turn a blind eye to all the crimes and atrocities inflicted upon the people daily, relinquishing the right to protest against crime and tragedy in exchange for the right to operate under the regime. Entities engaging in such actions are both victims and accomplices of the crime. When they have no choice but to stay in the country and continue their activities, they are victims; however, if they have the option to utilize other opportunities and still choose to remain under Taliban control in Afghanistan, they become accomplices in the crime.
Some private media and civil organizations, upon the Taliban’s return, were not willing to accept the rules and principles of this group and chose to operate in exile. Currently, the only media outlets remaining committed to freedom of expression and uncensored information are these exiled private media outlets. This is also why people trust exile media more than domestic ones. While observing domestic media under Taliban control, one can easily witness a dramatic decline in their audience. There is little difference between the news coverage and program production of domestic private media and Taliban-controlled media outlets.
In the regime entrenched in Kabul, media outlets have been completely stripped of their essence, producing non-media content, becoming a deadly virus for perpetuating collective ignorance. Private media under the shadow of Taliban rule engage in activities akin to religious schools. However, with a distinction: while religious schools openly promote Islamic extremism and fundamentalism, domestic media employ more sophisticated methods and techniques. Information dissemination directly echoes Taliban intelligence, acquiescing to all restrictions and ruthless censorship by this group, an excessive focus on disseminating “good news,” especially when, apart from the Taliban and their supporters, everyone else feels alienated in a country they no longer recognize as their own—what is this if not the propagation of Taliban ideology? Why must so much emphasis be placed on spreading “positive news” in a regime of tragedy? Are people interested in such news, or is there another reason compelling domestic private media to do so? Is it reasonable or logical to expect people experiencing unprecedented levels of oppression and intimidation to simply crave good and positive news, ignoring all the pain and wounds inflicted primarily by the Taliban group?
What needs no proof is that domestic private media, once supported by Western powers to strengthen and institutionalize freedom of expression, are now merely conducting business and have no concerns beyond that. They began with such intent and determination, merely showcasing acts of democracy and freedom of expression to exploit the opportunities and resources provided by the West in Afghanistan. The true face of commercial media only became apparent when the Taliban returned to power. While non-commercial and committed media outlets either succumbed to the pressures of this group or left the country, commercial media danced to whatever tune the Taliban regime played, essentially reducing themselves to propaganda tools for the regime in Kabul. When you visit these media outlets, you won’t find substantial news or analysis related to the daily events unfolding under Taliban control in Afghanistan. Almost all news, analyses, and media programs can be traced back to the agenda of the Taliban regime.
When the media fail to address the ongoing tragedy in the country, which is intensifying and victimizing the population, and instead try to normalize the situation, it either means the current bone-chilling crisis lacks news value or the media are not allowed to cover it. In either case, the situation is portrayed in a way that suggests everything is on track, and the wolf is dining with the lamb! Whether the media consider the tragedy lacking news value or refrain from covering it due to regime pressure, normalization of tragedy occurs. Suppose the media do not prioritize this critical issue and are engrossed in commerce. In that case, we should not expect anything more from them because they have already set their main objective, which is to continue business even in the toughest and most critical situations. If the media have a far more serious goal than commerce, it is evident that they stand against the restrictions of self-imposed and oppressive regimes and keep the torch of critical journalism burning.