Current Issues Briefing Summary

Afghanistan
Prospects for Free & Independent Media

A little less than a year after the fall of the Taliban, what challenges face journalists in Afghanistan and what can the international community do to help foster the growth of a free and independent media there? On September 24 the U.S. Institute of Peace and Internews co-sponsored a special discussion on these and other issues with acclaimed Pakistani journalist and best selling author Ahmed Rashid. The session was moderated by Richard Kauzlarich, director of the Institute's Special Initiative on the Muslim World.

Current Challenges

In an overview of the current environment for journalists in Afghanistan, Rashid explored some of the many challenges facing the Afghani press. Of note, he pointed to three primary unfulfilled promises made a year ago by the West which have been particularly problematic to the development of a free and independent media in Afghanistan:

• Security. Rashid noted that security outside of Kabul has not been improved—a problem not only for journalists, but all Afghans;
  
  
• Reconstruction funding. While humanitarian assistance has been actively flowing in Afghanistan, Rashid indicated that funding for infrastructural improvements was still insufficient; and
  
  
• Continued warlordism. Rashid stressed that the strength of warlords in Afghanistan remained virtually unchanged and new ways and means to strengthen the new central government were needed.

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The Evolution of Media in Afghanistan

Describing the evolution of the Afghani media Rashid noted that there were four main periods in recent history which have had a major impact on the shape of the media establishment in Afghanistan today.

• Pre-Soviet Invasion. According to Rashid throughout its history the media in Afghanistan has been largely state-run and sponsored—a model that was reinforced during both the Soviet and Taliban eras. In fact, as a case example of how state controlled media has long been the norm in Afghanistan Rashid pointed out that even the 1964 constitution contained no provisions protecting the freedom of the press or political expression in general.
  
  
• The Soviets and the press. While the state-run media model was perhaps at its height during the Soviet era, Rashid argued that it also was an important and positive time for the growth of the media in Afghanistan. Most notably, this period saw a large influx of equipment and infrastructure development including the construction of radio and television broadcasting facilities throughout Afghanistan. Rashid also noted that this period introduced a new generation of Afghans to careers in journalism through Soviet training programs.
  
  
• The Taliban and the press. From 1992 to 2001, Rashid explained, the media was fractionalized and that this period overall was a significant setback for the continued growth of the media in Afghanistan. Not only did the Taliban destroy much of the equipment and infrastructure built up during the Soviet era (particularly radio and television production and broadcasting facilities) but Afghans also became largely dependent on foreign media for news and information during this period.
  
  
• Post-Taliban and the Press. Rashid argued that the efforts of the United States and the West to get their message to the general Afghani people during the fight against the Taliban were largely ineffective. By his estimates, around 90 percent of Afghans using the BBC and VOA as their primary news source, so U.S. communication efforts were a tremendous missed opportunity to reach out to average Afghans. A more effective communications strategy by the West, Rashid argued, could have been used to mobilize more popular resistance to the Taliban during the campaign.

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Building a Free Press in Afghanistan

Rashid expressed optimism for the prospects for building a free and independent media in Afghanistan due President Karzai's stated personal commitment to both the freedom of the press and of expression. However, to facilitate the growth of a healthy free and independent press in Afghanistan Rashid outlined several areas where the interim government and the West must concentrate their efforts:

• Continued media training. Noting that most Afghani journalists come from a background of working in state-run media, Rashid pointed out that the concept of independent media was foreign to many Afghani journalists. Similarly, speaking from his work with the Open Media Fund for Afghanistan to provide seed funding to media projects throughout the country, Rashid explained that finding Afghans willing to set up and run independent newspapers and radio stations was proving to be very challenging. However, Rashid believes that journalism education and training projects being conducted by Internews and others are making important in-roads. In fact, Rashid noted that these programs are a vital opportunity to provide journalists with the tools and techniques they will need to be effective in today's media environment, and also serve as a forum to impart the responsibilities of a free and independent press to a new generation of Afghani journalists.
  
  
• Take media out of the control of local warlords. By discussing the current struggle for control of radio and TV both local warlords and ethnic political factions, Rashid argued that the United States must assist President Karzai's government in taking media establishments out of the hands of these ethnic factions. This conflict, Rashid noted, is extremely problematic as not only is the Karzai administration unable to communicate its message beyond the limits of Kabul, but the conflict has placed media in the crossfire between the Karzai administration, local warlords, and ethnic political factions. Citing the example of how local warlords were using local radio facilities and other press as personal propaganda tools, Rashid underlined the danger of a fractionalized press dominated by local warlords and ethnic political factions. Rashid stressed the importance of the press to be able to freely and accurately report the work of the interim government in Afghanistan and the importance of facilitating a healthy debate and discussion on political and social issues within a common framework among all Afghans.
  
  
• Increase investment in modern media infrastructure. According to Rashid, one of the most daunting challenges facing the establishment of a vibrant press in Afghanistan is the lack of infrastructure and resources. This is largely due to the fact that much of infrastructure built during the Soviet era has been decimated by years of civil war and the repressive policies of the Taliban. As a notable example, Rashid pointed out that Kandahar with a population of over a million people currently has absolutely no modern printing presses. This not only severely limits the ability for journalists to operate in Afghanistan, but also has other far reaching repercussion—as the education ministry is unable to even print school books. Discussing some of the projects that the Open Media Fund for Afghanistan has undertaken Rashid underlined the critical need for more investment by the international community to address Afghanistan's basic infrastructural needs. Despite an 80 percent illiteracy rate and lack of reliable electricity in much of Afghanistan, Rashid emphasized, there was a tremendous appetite and unmet demand amongst Afghani's for news—particularly by radio and TV.
  
  
• Encourage more coordination between the United States and NGOs and IGOs in Afghanistan. Again noting the exceptional work by NGOs like Internews and assistance programs being conducted by U.S. agencies, Rashid pointed out that often the potential impact of these programs were being mitigated by lack of coordination and cooperation. Even programs being conducted by different U.S. agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Defense often suffer from poor coordination, Rashid observed. Discussing the potential synergies that could be found in media training programs being run by NGOs and the construction and provision of radio transmitting equipment to Afghans by the U.S. Department of Defense, Rashid argued that a small increase in coordination of efforts could lead to a significantly improved result for all parties involved.

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Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Rashid stressed that all democratization efforts from elections to reconstruction need the media to succeed. He also underlined the important role that the establishment of a vibrant free and independent press will have in battling tribalism and strengthening national unity. Finally, Rashid noted that the development of a strong, free, and independent media in Afghanistan would have a tremendous impact in and on the Muslim world—serving as a potential agent of change from Central and South Asia to the Middle East and beyond.

Related Institute Online Resources

Afghanistan: Prospects for Justice
Archived Audio and Video

Afghanistan: Prospects for Peace and Reconstruction
Archived Audio and Video

Afghanistan: A Regional Perspective
Archived Audio and Video

Afghanistan Web Links
Library Web Links and Resources

More About Related Institute Activities

Special Initiative on the Muslim World

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About this Event Summary

This summary reflects the presentation and comments from "Afghanistan: Prospects for a Free and Independent Media" —a Current Issues Briefing held at the U.S. Institute of Peace September 24, 2002. The views summarized above reflect the discussion at the meeting; they do not represent formal positions taken by the Institute, which does not advocate specific policies.

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