The State Department will voice its concerns to President Karzai about a proposed ban on live media during Taliban attacks, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said Tuesday.
“It’s pretty obvious we support free press”, Holbrooke told reporters at a State Department briefing. “We don’t support restrictions on press. My whole career has been devoted to supporting that and PJ [Crowley, State Department spokesman] and I and the Secretary of State are concerned and we’ll make our support of free access by the press clear to the government.”
On Monday Afghanistan’s intelligence service announced to media representatives they planned to impose a ban on live coverage of insurgent attacks. Afghan government officials argued militants benefit from the real time information they receive during live broadcasts of their operations. Afghan officials did not give specifics about how the rule would be enforced, but said media outlets who refuse comply will be punished.
Reporters immediately objected, arguing this policy is not consistent with a democracy. One day later Afghan government officials appear to have relented. President Karzai’s spokesperson, Waheed Omer, said Tuesday the new restrictions will have to be clarified and promised they wont amount to “censorship”.
Any ban on media in Afghanistan would have immediate impacts on western coverage of the war. Many news organizations rely on local photographers to provide content, and restrictions on locals would translate to restrictions on everyone.