(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Pakistani Foreign Affairs Minister Abdul Sattar, RSF expressed its concern after the Pakistani government put pressure on the Taliban’s ambassador in Islamabad to stop holding press conferences. “These regular meetings with the Pakistani and foreign media have been very successful because they give the Taliban’s point of view on […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Pakistani Foreign Affairs Minister Abdul Sattar, RSF expressed its concern after the Pakistani government put pressure on the Taliban’s ambassador in Islamabad to stop holding press conferences. “These regular meetings with the Pakistani and foreign media have been very successful because they give the Taliban’s point of view on the war. Banning the press conferences will only serve to increase the lack of information about the current situation in the country,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. The organisation asked the minister to guarantee that Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef gets his right to speak to the press, in accordance with Pakistani laws.
According to information gathered by RSF, on 6 November 2001, the Foreign Affairs Ministry called on Mullah Zaeef, the Taliban’s ambassador in Islamabad, to stop his “propaganda” against the United States during his regular press conferences in the embassy’s garden. According to the Pakistani authorities, in his press conferences, which are attended by hundreds of Pakistani and foreign journalists, the Taliban diplomat has allegedly violated “diplomatic norms” and spoken violently against a third country, in this case the United States. According to several sources, Mullah Zaeef was not banned from speaking to the press but was given a serious warning. In fact, since 7 November, the ambassador has not held any press conferences. However, on that day he did receive the most important Pakistani newspaper editors at a dinner.
Many journalists expressed their concern after the announcement of the decision, which could prevent them from getting an official Taliban voice when most of their leaders, especially Mullah Omar, very rarely speak to the press.
