Although Afghanistan is fortunately united geographically but she is divided administration wise between two Afghan warring groups namely Taliban and forces loyal to former Afghan president Burhanudin Rabbani. Taliban claims their autonomy over 80% of the Afghan territory while the rest still under the control of commander Ahmad Shah Masoud, strong man of President Rabbani. Both forces are indulge in a kind of proxy civil war since 1994.Taliban over run the Afghan capital Kabul on September 27, 1996. As they have reputation for their extra hard fundamental approach towards life, Taliban have brought drastic changes in the social and administrative setup of Afghan society. Like other sectors of life, they completely changed the information policy of former government. Taliban locked the gates of Television stations in their controlled areas. They consider it Islamic to watch Television. In another step they avoided broadcasting of music. Taliban have a different idea about women's participation in general life; this is why they dismissed all women journalists and staff working in government departments including information organizations. They have change Kabul Radio Afghanistan into SHARIAT GHAGH (voice of Sharia). Similarly they banned the photojournalism, terming it un-islamic. In spite of all these strict policies and none stop infighting in Afghanistan a kind of meager Media is available inside and out side Afghanistan. Here we tried to report something about Afghan media current situation, so we can see a picture of journalism its present and future prospectus.

PRINT MEDIA
Currently no Afghan newspaper publishes daily under the owner ship of an Afghan.Although a newspaper Daily SAHAR (Pashto-Dari) appears daily in Peshawar (Pakistan) under the editorship of Mr. Naeem Mustafa (an Afghan national) but he started the newspaper with the help of a Pakistani publisher, Arif Sheikh. Sahar having circulation of more than five thousands papers daily, contains news and articles about Afghanistan. It covers stories about different Afghan groups but the Pakistani government controls its policy. Even then, it is a good step from Pakistani authorities to allow foreigners to run a daily newspaper. In Peshawar, a Pashto daily WAHDAT appears daily since 1983 under the editor/ownership of Senior Pakistani journalist Mr. Pir Sufaid Shah Hamdard. Wahdat is the first and only complete Pashto newspaper in Pakistan. Because 94% Wahdat readership belongs to Afghan refugees living in Pakistan; this is why daily Wahdat gives more coverage to Afghan affairs than the Pakistani affairs. Wahdat collects news from Afghan sources. A number of Afghan journalists are attached with daily Wahdat. Wahdat apart from some technical problems is a great source of information for Afghans. On the other hand, inside Afghanistan after the collapse of former communist regime, no Afghan government has been able to offer a daily newspaper to the Afghan readers. Afghan capital Kabul currently under Taliban control having four newspapers namely SHARIAT (Pashto/Dari) of Taliban movement, ANIS & HAYWAD (pashto-dari), KABUL TIMES (English). These newspapers appear with specific intervals. Similarly, in other provinces under their control, Taliban's department of Information and Culture publishes weeklies and biweeklies. For example TLOO-E-ISLAM , KHELAFAT and QANDAHAR in Kandahar . ITEFAQ-E-ISLAM in Herat. BAIDAR in Mazar-e-Sharif. SANAI in Ghazni. NANGARHAR in Nangarhar. KUNDUZ in Kunduz. SISTINE in Farad. HELM AND in Helmand. Taliban claim that they have rehabilitated the printing equipment in different provinces and updated it with computerized system of publications.

In the areas under Anti-Taliban forces print media is not so flourish. Faizabad, provincial center of Badakhshan has some printing presses. Where print stuff for President Rabbani government is publishing. In the north of Kabul, Charikar center of Parwan province where weekly PAYAM-E-MUJAHID publishes from anti-Taliban side. PASOON is an other journal appears from Taloqan, Takhar. Outside Afghanistan; Afghans are busy in their journalistic activities. Peshawar the northern city of Pakistan where the large number of Afghan refugees are living since 1978.During Afghan Jihad Peshawar based Afghan resistance groups had their own publications, but After the installation of Islamic government in Kabul, only a few number Afghan publications left in Pakistan. Hezb-e-Islami (Hekmatyar) till the entrance of Taliban into Kabul was running their party newspaper "Shahadat". Then Shahdat was forced to close by Pakistani authorities. Nowadays National Islamic front of Pir Gailani his their party paper weekly "Mahaz" .

Currently in Peshawar one can get different (Pashto/ Dari) publications. The number of publication is getting up and down. Because they are directly linked to their sources ad government policies. This is a common thinking that any publication can appear in Pakistan which fallow Pakistan Afghan Policy. But in some cases Pakistani authorities are much kind and Paym-e-Zan of RAWA and Imroz-Ma of Shi'ite Afghan group Hezb-i-Wahdat can critics Taliban and their backers. Other Afghan publications in Pakistan are not much politicized rather cultural and social. Most of the papers and journal magazines financed by NGOs and their sole cause is to project their activities.

Nowadays Monthly Heela, Watan, Afghanistan, Azad Afghanistan, Saba, Tawon, Zan Afghan, Gandhara, and Shabkhand are most popular Afghan publications. US Consulate have their Special Publication Monthly ITLAAT (Pasto/Dari). These all publications are depended on their financial resources, which they receive from different channels and they are also on the mercy of host government. This is why these publications are not so much regular and free in their policies.

Electronic Media
In present day Afghanistan Media as a whole and electronic media in particular is passing through the worst period of its whole history. Although Radio Kabul Afghanistan (Shariat Ghagh ) and other Radio stations are functioning according to the situation and policies. But what is the need of the day, these stations can not answer it. Radio Kabul under Taliban control starts its broadcasting at 6: 30 A.M and closed on 9: 0 A.M.Then on 6:30 pm till 10:30 pm. During that period on can listen recites from Holy Qur'an and Religious sermons time and again. Most of the transmission dedicated to Religious programs. Pashto is the official language of said Radio. Short Ghagh is free of entertainment, music, drama, free time leisure and other informative items. Radio Kabul is totally male dominant organization. Not a single Programme is available for woman folk. It is the case with other folks and classes. Apart from Pashto Short Ghagh their broadcasting in other regional and foreign languages i.e.Dari, Uzbeki, Turkmani, Baluch and also English and Urdu. Including radio Kabul Taliban also controls functioning radio stations in Provinces of Nangarhar, Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunar, Khost, Kunduz and Baghlan. This station relays on short waves while Radio Kabul his Medium waves frequency.

The Afghan territory where the anti-Taliban forces are in control, Electronic media is not worth mentioning. Only in Badkhshan and Parwan Provinces a minor radio station and a TV centre is reported. What they are broadcasting is a matter to be searched.

An Expert View On Afghan Media
Mrs. Nancy Hatch Dupree, a prominent lady in love with Afghan society and culture and Director of ACBAR, Resource and Information Center {ARIC}. In a brief interview Mrs. Dupree describe her point of view about current Afghan Media and also suggested some guidelines for Afghan media men. She said "Afghanistan is passing through a phase of war and devastation so in such kind of situation Afghan journalists should reflect the real scenario of their country and Countrymen. Morality must be considered and exaggeration should be avoided. Infect news collection is a difficult job in present day Afghanistan, because journalist have no way to reach on original spot, similarly warring factions always tries to misinform the media and the people, so true picture always remain bleak. Unfortunately some local and foreign journalists takes sides with warring groups and they twist the story accordingly. Foreigner journalists always looking for their own self interest, they ignores the real issues and instead report the story of their own concern. Because of such kind of targeted reporting Taliban were portrayed as barbarians and aliens to the civilized world. On the part of Taliban, they are also less co- operative with Media people, they restricts their activities and never tell them the real position thus in retaliation journalists declare them the people with no sense. Taliban always play the defensive game against journalists and they pushed themselves to the last extent. About Journalism in Afghanistan, Mrs. Nancy Dupree said that, Afghan journalism always remain under government control, only in Prime minister Musa Shafeeq era journalism had a kind of freedom, Because He had trust on publications and trust is the basic requirement for freedom, government and journalists should have a mutual understanding on national and political issues.

Director ARIC specially stressed for the establishment of center of journalism where Afghan journalists can get together and discuss their professional and other concern issues. Mr. Dupree, in her kind advice asked the Afghan journalists [reporters and Editors] to try their best to remain impartial and be careful while reporting and editing any controversial and important story.

By : Mati ullah Abid
E Mail: Mabidn@yahoo.com