The Taliban has approved 11-point guidelines for the media, directing them to comply with them while reporting in Afghanistan.

The guidelines prohibit publication of “topics that are in conflict with Islam” and bar insulting national figures in media activities.

The guidelines prohibit insulting national and personal privacy as also distortion to any news content.

“Journalists should consider the principles of journalism in their writing. The media should consider balance in their publications. Matters whose accuracy is not known and have not been approved by the officials should be cautious in publishing them. Be careful in publishing issues that have a negative impact on public opinion or spoil the morale of the people,” read the guidelines.

The media should maintain their neutrality in publishing news and publish whatever is true.

The Government Media Center strives to cooperate with the media and journalists and to facilitate the preparation of reports, and the media will then prepare their detailed reports in coordination with the Office. In the Government Media Office, for the convenience of the media and journalists, a specific form has been prepared for cooperation in compiling news reports, according to the guidelines.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has recently expressed concern over the growing violence against media workers in Afghanistan, highlighting that 153 media outlets have been shut down since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Republic Salvation Front on Monday issued a statement to condemn the recent statements by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran concerning Afghanistan.

Terming recent statements by Khan as interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan, ARSF chairman Ajmal Sohail said, “Imran Khan’s latest move shows the world that Pakistan has full influence over Taliban and that the next Government in Afghanistan will run its affairs in accordance with Pakistan’s behest.”

Recently Islamabad had dispatched ISI chief to Kabul to stitch an interim governance structure in Afghanistan after the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban. Khan had also hailed the Taliban takeover as independence from slavery, He had also said that Pakistan has initiated dialogue with Taliban for inclusive Government in Afghanistan.