Afghanistan-Pakistan Media Affairs Challenges and Opportunities

Rahimullah Yusufzai December 2018

The media in Afghanistan and Pakistan has never been so large, vibrant and independent.

It has attained unimaginable power and become a key player in politics and other walks of life. Media is the fourth pillar of the state and democracy in both Afghanistan and Pakistan in the true sense of the word.

Earlier, it was the mainstream print and electronic media that was dominant and had assumed unprecedented importance. Now the social media is making an impact in these two neighbouring countries and often taking the lead in breaking news even if it has lesser credi- bility than the mainstream media.

The media has tended to be overly patriotic and at times even aggres- sive in context of the perceived national interests of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The poor relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan affect the work of journalists.

There is generally lack of awareness about each other due to the virtual absence of Afghan media in Pakistan and Pakistani media in Afghanistan. Table of Contents

List of Acronyms i

Foreword iii

Rise in Media Power 1

Fallout on Media of Poor Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations 3

Status of Afghan Media in Pakistan 4

Status of Pakistani Media in Afghanistan 7

Reasons of Information Vacuum Between Neighbours 8

Creating Culture of Engagement – Establishing Institutional Relations 9 Between Media Stakeholders

Impact of Regional Dynamics on Afghanistan-Pakistan Media 11 Relations – What Went Wrong

Recommendations for States, Media and Civil Society 12

Pictorial Highlights of Afghanistan – Pakistan Journalists’ 15 Exchange Programme 2017

List of Acronyms

APAPPS Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity

APG Afghanistan Policy Group

APP Associated Press of Pakistan

FES Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

INGOs International Non-Governmental Organizations

MoU Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

PEMRA Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority

PPG Pakistan Policy Group

USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

USA United States of America

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS i

Foreword

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a German Political Foundation committed to the values of Social Democracy. Through its vast international network and offces in more than 100 countries, FES promotes democratic political culture, socially inclusive economic development as well as peace and stability. FES has more than a decade of experience in facilitating high level dialogues in South Asia. Working towards peace and security in Afghanistan is a key objective of FES in its regional work.

Over the last few years FES had established a network of four Policy Groups in Afghanistan, Central Asia, India and Pakistan. Each Policy Group has been composed of former and serving ambassadors, senior civil servants, military generals, parliamentarians, civil society leaders, analysts and journalists who bear in mind the strategic interest of their respective countries while deliberating mutually benefcial commitments and obligations. The Policy Groups engaged with each other and facilitated inter-regional track II dialogues with valuable inputs from experts in China, Iran, Russia and Turkey.

In April 2016, FES organized a bilateral meeting of Afghanistan and Pakistan Policy Groups in Kabul which was attended by the senior representatives of aforementioned Policy Groups. In that meeting, three core groups on security, economy and media were formed. Mr. Rahimullah Yusufzai was nominated by Pakistan Policy Group (PPG) as the head of Media group. PPG consists of a standing group of 15-20 prominent and infuential academics, policy makers, former civil servants and military offcers with infuence in political, economic, military and media circles.

In 2017, both its offces in Islamabad and Kabul, and with the support of Pakistan Policy Group and Afghanistan Policy Group, FES organized an “Afghanistan-Pakistan Journalist Exchange Programme” in which prominent journalists from both sides of the border had a number of exchange visits. At the end of this exchange programme, it was decided that a study on “Afghanistan-Pakistan Media Affairs” will be authored by Rahimullah Yusufzai who has been heading the Media group from Pakistan.

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS iii We are highly thankful to Rahimullah Yusufzai for his tireless efforts in researching this study, for analyzing the situation of Afghanistan-Pakistan media affairs and for coming up with a number of valuable recommendations for state authorities of Afghanistan & Pakistan, media and civil society.

Rolf Paasch, Abdullah Dayo, Resident Director, Programme Offcer, FES Pakistan FES Pakistan

December 2018

iv AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS Rise in Media Power

In Afghanistan, the media has General Pervez Musharraf in 2007 proliferated in an unprecedented to restore the sacked judges of the way and benefted the most from superior courts. This marked the the atmosphere of freedom of beginning of judicial activism that speech and expression since 2001- empowered the judges, particularly 2002 in the post-Taliban period. It those sitting in judgement in has gained immensely in terms of the superior courts. It is widely visibility and power compared to acknowledged that this would not other institutions. have happened without the active and supportive role played by the The Afghan media cannot be media. ignored even if its growing power is resented by the other powerful Such is the importance of the pillars of the state, including media in shaping public opinion in people in power and those with Pakistan that it is often able to set guns. Efforts to curb the media’s the agenda for the other institutions independence have continued, but to follow. The country’s powerful this hasn’t diluted its enthusiasm military has a full-fedged media and keenness to do a proper job wing headed by a general that in keeping with the principles handles all media-related work and of independent journalism. It is sponsors movies, dramas, anthems, believed that the freedom gained by etc to create a better image of the Afghan media cannot be easily the security forces. The elected taken away as it has been won the government and its information hard way and is a guarantor for department and the opposition sustaining the country’s fedgling parties maintain ever-expanding democracy. public relations cells. Though, the print media continues to retain its In Pakistan, two institutions that importance and the radio has made have gained immense power in the a comeback in Pakistan through the past decade are the judiciary and FM channels, the television channels the media. While the judiciary has have mushroomed to more than legal authority, the media operates 100 and every day there are now largely on the basis of moral power. an unbelievable 118 prime-time talk In fact, the judiciary became strong shows, 177 dramas, and about 100 when the media played a key role in morning and 57 crime shows. There keeping alive the landmark lawyers’ are also over 300 radio channels agitation that forced military ruler while 1,750 newspapers in Urdu,

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS 1 English and the regional languages percent morning shows and 21 are published daily. percent watch news and current affairs channels. The viewership Such is the diversity of the Pakistani of the news and current affairs television media that according programmes, particularly the to the Pakistan Electronic Media political talk shows, has dropped as Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), often the same persons whose views 84 percent of the viewers watch are known are invited as guests to news bulletins on TV channels, 65 these programmes and participants percent watch drama TV channels, indulge in distasteful verbal brawls. 36 percent Islamic TV channels, 34 percent sports channels, 28

2 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS Fallout on Media of Poor Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations

While it is true that the growing visit to the neighbouring country power and independence of the and try to work freely. The two media in Afghanistan and Pakistan governments don’t pay much has contributed to increased attention to allowing exchange of awareness about issues of public media products and journalists’ importance and strengthening of delegations. Such visits are generally democracy in the two countries, arranged by international donors this hasn’t necessarily helped in and organizations. The animosity improving their usually strained in the Pak-Afghan relations also relations. The media has tended affects the working of the media to be overly patriotic and at times and the objectivity of journalists even aggressive in context of the covering issues concerning the two perceived national interests of countries. Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is generally lack of awareness The often unfriendly relations about each other due to the between the two bordering Islamic virtual absence of Afghan media countries has negatively affected in Pakistan and Pakistani media in their media and made it diffcult Afghanistan. Those following the to cooperate and collaborate with local media often hear negative each other. It is becoming hard to news about each other as positive say anything positive about one information is either not available another in view of their embittered or deliberately ignored. The people relations. in the two countries usually get the information about each from The poor relations between mostly Western news network and Afghanistan and Pakistan affect not directly from their own media. the work of journalists. Everything This could fuel an image of the two is seen from the lens of politics countries that is misleading. and security issues and journalists face hurdles if they want to pay a

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS 3 Status of Afghan Media in Pakistan

The print media has been traditionally animosity towards Pakistan among weak in Afghanistan. The circulation sections of the Afghan society and sale of Afghan newspapers and clouds their judgement about the journals in the two main languages, credibility of the Pakistani media. Pashto and Dari (Afghan Persian), is limited even in Afghanistan Afghan TV channels can be watched what to speak of countries like in Pakistan on privately owned dish Pakistan. There is virtually no antennas. Some cable operators Afghan publication worth the name illegally show Afghan TV channels, that is in demand in Pakistan. The but stricter government controls language barrier is also the reason enforced by Pakistan Electronic for the small number of Pakistanis Media Regulatory Authority following the Afghan media. There (PEMRA) is making it diffcult and are a negligible number of Persian costly to do so. PEMRA offcials speakers in Pakistan while the insist there is no ban specifcally on Pashto script used in Afghanistan Afghan television channels as all isn’t understood much by Pakistani foreign TVs need license for landing Pashto speakers. rights in Pakistan costing Rs10 million for fve years along with 30 In context of the electronic media, percent annual fee. the number of Pakistanis regularly able to listen to Afghan radio No Afghan media organization has stations and watch Afghanistan’s a regular offce in Pakistan. Opening numerous television channels isn’t such an offce would be a challenge. very high. Afghan music, mostly in Bureaucratic hurdles and security Pashto, certainly has many ardent clearance would take time and fans in Pakistan and they make possibly need political intervention it a point to gain access to it by by the two governments. The cost whatever means possible, often can be fairly high to post a journalist through the internet. The more than in Pakistan. One Afghan television 2.5 million Afghan refugees also channel in Pashto (Shamshad TV) prefer to tune in to their homeland’s discreetly opened a small offce in TV and radio channels, though Peshawar, but it was later closed their long stay in Pakistan has made down. In the past, the Afghan media them accustomed to read Pakistani organizations generally found a way publications, listen to the country’s out by appointing someone already radio and watch its wide variety of living in Pakistan, such as an Afghan TV channels. However, the general refugee, as its correspondent there.

4 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS Like other Afghan refugees, the departments at the federal and journalists too could sometimes provincial levels. Security clearance face harassment by the police and is also required from the intelligence other law-enforcement and security agencies when the government’s personnel. A few complained of information departments give them being questioned by the intelligence accreditation cards. agencies if they reported something that is considered objectionable. Work permits are presently non- existent for Afghan journalists Some Afghans used to work for the in Pakistan. Afghanistan and Afghan and the international media Pakistan would have to sign an in Pakistan, but most have left for agreement to allow journalists Western countries or returned from the two countries to work to Afghanistan due to diffcult legally on reciprocal basis. Such an working conditions or in search of arrangement that worked fne for a better prospects. Abdul Haq Omari number of years between India and of Tolo TV and Zabih Shafaq of Pakistan before collapsing could Azadi Radio were among the last serve as a model to begin with. Afghan journalists still working in Pakistan from their work stations Gaining access to confict zones in Islamabad and Peshawar. Both is a challenge for all journalists, returned to Afghanistan a couple including Pakistanis, but Afghan of years ago after fnding it diffcult journalists cannot hope to be invited to continue working in Pakistan due to media visits occasionally arranged to security and bureaucratic issues. by the military for local and foreign Now mostly Pakistani Pashto- journalists. As Afghan journalists speaking journalists are working aren’t accredited, they don’t get in place of Afghans mostly for the invited to offcial media events international media broadcasting in in Pakistan. They seek help from Pashto. Pakistani colleagues to cover such events or keep themselves abreast As the Afghan journalists generally by following the happenings in the didn’t possess legal documents such Pakistani media, particularly the TV as work permit to do journalism channels. in Pakistan, they lived in fear of being stopped from working. At times the conditions for Afghan Accreditation issues hamper the journalists became dangerous work of Afghan journalists as they in Pakistan. The Peshawar- aren’t legally permitted to work if based Afghan journalist Janullah they are unable to get accredited Hashimzada working for the Afghan with the Pakistani information and international media in Pakistan

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS 5 was assassinated by four masked incident served as a reminder for gunmen on August 24, 2009 in the Afghan journalists that they too Khyber area bordering Afghanistan. could meet such a fate. His killers haven’t been arrested and his family is still seeking justice. The

6 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS Status of Pakistani Media in Afghanistan

Presently, there is no offce of Pakistani newspapers were brought any Pakistani media organization to Afghanistan daily for sale before in Afghanistan. No Pakistani the ban was imposed. The readers journalist is based in Afghanistan, included diplomats, government though journalists from Pakistan offcials, traders, staff of pay occasional short trips on international organizations, INGOs, reporting assignments. A few academics, students, Pakistanis Pakistani journalists faced arrest working in Afghanistan, etc. Over a and deportation when they entered period of time, readers start losing Afghanistan without proper travel interest if a particular newspaper documents in the past. of their choice isn’t available and they have no other option, but All Pakistani newspapers were to switch to another one. Those banned in Afghanistan by President interested, however, can still access Hamid Karzai’s government in 2012 the Pakistani newspapers through when a Peshawar-based Pashto the internet. newspaper, Wahdat, published a news item containing objectionable Concerning the electronic media, term for slain Afghan soldiers. The Pakistani Urdu and Pashto TV mistake was committed by one channels can be watched in small newspaper, but all Urdu and Afghanistan on privately owned English newspapers and magazines dish antennas and through some were banned. The ban still exists cable operators. However, these and no real effort seems to have aren’t widely available. Many been made to resolve the issue. It is Afghans during their stay in Pakistan doubtful if this issue has ever been as refugees learned to speak and raised and discussed in bilateral even write Urdu and many still meetings between offcials from the have an interest in reading Pakistani two countries. newspapers and watching Pakistan’s TV channels. According to the Pakistan embassy in Kabul, about 1,500-2,000

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS 7 Reasons of Information Vacuum Between Neighbours

Though Afghanistan and Pakistan reasons and the existing situation are neighbours and have to co- of general insecurity due to the exist, their relations have generally frequent acts of terrorism on both remained unfriendly due to border sides of their Durand Line border. disputes and their closeness to the The occasional confdence-building rival superpowers such as the Union measures have failed to overcome of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) the distrust characterizing the and United States of America (USA) uncertain relationship between the in the past. two countries.

Politics and security issues dominate The inability of the media to be the narrative in terms of the often read, heard and seen in each uneasy bilateral ties. The matters other’s country is considered of life and death in view of the part of the mutually antagonistic spiraling violence and general policies made in Islamabad and insecurity prevent the creation Kabul. This precludes listening to of the necessary goodwill to do and understanding each other as anything meaningful for improving just one side is heard regarding a the relationship. particular event or issue.

Suspicion and mistrust dominate the Afghanistan-Pakistan relations on account of both historical

8 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS Creating Culture of Engagement Establishing Institutional Relations Between Media Stakeholders

As journalists are supposed to be an internet-based webpage. An neutral and also opinion-makers, agenda of reasonable and doable they could play an important role objectives needs to be agreed upon in creating the right conditions for to start with. The local journalists’ peace and friendly relations between unions and press clubs would Afghanistan and Pakistan by have to be involved in this effort. highlighting commonalities and the Lack of resources has always been positive aspects of the relationship a constraint in materializing this and downplaying jingoistic and idea. Therefore, some funding from overly nationalistic positions taken offcial and non-offcial sources by certain elements. would be needed to sustain this initiative and make it effective. The representatives of journalists’ unions and the offcials of media Efforts to invite participants from organizations in Afghanistan and both countries to take part in TV Pakistan may have met informally talk shows discussing bilateral issues on rare occasions during trips and events haven’t made any real arranged by the government or headway on account of concerns donors and held consultations on that they would say unpalatable issues of mutual interest, but these things. It is rare to watch discussants occasional interactions haven’t from the two countries in a TV achieved anything tangible. programme focusing on issues of mutual concern, but it depends on Though past attempts to form a joint the host of the show to make it association of Afghan and Pakistani balanced or one-sided. Often, the journalists haven’t worked, such host being in control of the show efforts ought to continue. There is makes it biased in favour of his or need for doing proper homework her country. before making another attempt to bring together journalists from the Lately though, discussions were held two countries on one platform. during meetings of the Afghanistan Holding regular meetings would Policy Group and Pakistan Policy be ideal, but the forum could also Group sponsored by the Friedrich be kept alive and working through Ebert Stiftung (FES) for evolving a the use of technology, particularly joint strategy to lobby their respective

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS 9 governments to allow the free fow Afghan people would start learning of information in the two countries. more about Pakistan through the One of the stated objectives was to eyes of Pakistan-based Afghan consider lowering the landing rights journalists working for Bakhtar. license fee for TV channels from Reciprocal arrangements could be Afghanistan and Pakistan so that made by opening Bakhtar’s offce these become available to viewers in Islamabad and the state-owned in both countries. However, this Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) would require regular interaction could have a presence in Kabul. and lobbying because incidents of violence happening regularly in the If it works well and there are no two countries damage whatever security and fnancial issues, this little has been achieved in terms arrangement could be extended of creating the right conditions for to the other state-owned media such initiatives. organizations and also privately run television and radio channels. The Afghan government had a plan The primary concern though would since the last few years to open be ensuring security for the media offces of the state-owned Bakhtar houses and journalists operating in news agency in a few neighbouring the two countries in view of past countries, including Pakistan, complaints about harassment at the but it hasn’t materialized yet. It hands of security agencies. could be a good beginning as the

10 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS Impact of Regional Dynamics on Afghanistan- Pakistan Media Relations – What Went Wrong

Afghanistan and Pakistan have As for Pakistan, it was a close ally mostly been part of rival world and of the US during the Cold War and regional camps and this generally an opponent of the USSR. However, had negative fallout on their overall Pakistan also befriended China and relations, including media ties. Their this relationship blossomed without political alignments in world politics affecting its relations, at least until were antagonistic to each other. recently, with the US. Nowadays, This was another cause, together Pakistan has been moving away with their unfriendly bilateral ties, of from the US and inching closer the deep mistrust in the relationship. to Russia. Its relations with China have deepened further while the Afghanistan was earlier among the hostilities with India have increased. leading non-aligned countries but However, the single biggest factor after the communist Saur Revolution for the animosity in Afghanistan- in April 1978 it moved closer to the Pakistan relations is Pakistan’s Soviet Union and became involved enmity with India and growing in the Cold War on the side of Afghanistan-India friendship. This Moscow against the US and its allies. has negatively impacted the already The Western and Islamic support lukewarm Afghanistan-Pakistan for the Afghan mujahideen against media relations. Islamabad cannot the Soviet occupying forces and the dictate Kabul to choose its friends Afghan communist regime brought on Pakistan’s whims. Also, Kabul a change in Afghanistan’s foreign has to show more sensitivity to relations as it moved away from Islamabad’s concerns regarding Moscow and closer to Washington, New Delhi, more so in terms of Islamabad, Tehran, Beijing and security matters. Riyadh. Presently, it is frmly in the US camp, though Kabul has also As a corrective measure, Kabul and been trying to improve relations Islamabad have to keep aside the with Moscow, Beijing and other India factor and deal with each anti-US capitals. Afghanistan has other at the bilateral level in the also become very friendly with India interest of their people because as much to Pakistan’s discomfort. they say friends can be changed but not neighbours.

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS 11 Recommendations for State, Media and Civil Society

• Ink Memorandum of propose steps for removing Understanding (MoU) the bottlenecks. Also, give between the ministries of suggestions for clearing information and culture of misconceptions about each Afghanistan and Pakistan other through timely action to ensure improvement and discussing issues in the in bilateral relations and working group instead of the enabling their citizens to media. better understand each other’s issues and aspirations through • Remove legal hurdles to free fow of information. enable an agreed number of journalists from Afghanistan • Develop a mechanism for and Pakistan to legally work regular interaction between for their respective media the offcial information organizations in the two departments of the two countries for a fxed period countries instead of having of time on reciprocal basis. one-off, once-in-a-while Look into the similar bilateral meetings that only briefy arrangement that existed focus attention on issues. between India and Pakistan for a number of years to • Create a separate joint see if it can be followed and working group for improving improved. media relations between the two countries in addition • Do away with any existing ban, to the fve working groups announced or unannounced, focusing on security, trade, on media products between border and refugees’ issues the two countries after a and established as part of the joint review at the offcial Afghanistan Pakistan Action level and allow circulation Plan for Peace and Solidarity and sale of newspapers, (APAPPS) in early 2018 on journals and books published Pakistan’s initiative. in Afghanistan and Pakistan subject to their respective • Entrust the joint working laws to ensure free fow of group with the task to look information. into the hurdles in the way of cooperation between the • Devise a mutually agreeable public and private media system with provision for of the two countries and special and affordable rates

12 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS for license for landing rights in marriages, joint ventures, the two countries, particularly etc between Afghans and in Pakistan where PEMRA Pakistanis and get these rules apply, to facilitate the publicized through the media public and private TV channels in the two countries to show based in Afghanistan and that the relations aren't Pakistan to broadcast in the always unfriendly. two countries after meeting the legal and commercial • Pool the knowledge, requirements. experience and resources of international organizations • Encourage and facilitate working in Afghanistan opening the offces of the and Pakistan to facilitate state-owned Bakhtar news meaningful interaction and agency of Afghanistan in cooperation between the Islamabad and of the state- Afghan and Pakistani media run Associated Press of in the interest of peace and Pakistan (APP) in Kabul. solidarity in the region. Extend this arrangement to the other public and private • Conduct an independent media organizations keeping joint study on Pak-Afghan in view the security and relations to identify missed fnancial issues. opportunities for improving bilateral media relations and • Facilitate exchange of movies, exploring chances that may documentaries and TV emerge in future to build dramas made in Afghanistan the relationship on a strong and Pakistan to be shown in footing. the two countries for better understanding of their history • Enable and motivate the and culture. media in Afghanistan and Pakistan to collaborate for • Form a joint committee of the covering events of common representatives of the private interest taking place in the two media of the two countries countries and undertaking to identify challenges and joint ventures. recommend the way forward for mutually benefcial • Involving and sensitizing collaboration between the the political parties and civil private print and electronic society groups in the effort to media organizations. improve Pak-Afghan media relations with the objective • Identify positive stories of to promote overall bilateral cooperation, friendship, inter- relations.

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN MEDIA AFFAIRS 13

Pictorial Highlights of Afghanistan – Pakistan Journalists’ Exchange Programme 2017 Afghan journalists meeting Mr. Sartaj Aziz, National Security and Foreign Adviser at Foreign Offce, Islamabad (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo

Afghan journalists meeting Major General Asif Ghafoor, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) at Islamabad (2017) Photo by ISPR Afghan journalists meeting Ms. Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting at PTV head quarter, Islamabad (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo

Afghan journalists attending a roundtable dialogue on “Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations – Transforming their relations through media” at Islamabad. Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo Afghan journalists meeting with leading journalists and members of Pakistan Policy Group at Islamabad (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo

Afghan journalists meeting with leading journalists and members of Pakistan Policy Group at Islamabad (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo Afghan journalists meeting with leading journalists and members of Pakistan Policy Group at Islamabad (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo

Afghan journalists meeting with leading journalists and members of Pakistan Policy Group at Islamabad (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo Afghan journalists meeting with the offce bearers and senior journalists at Lahore Press Club (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo

Afghan journalists meeting with the offce bearers and senior journalists at Lahore Press Club (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo A group photo of Afghan journalists with Acting Secretary of SAFRON, Commissioner Afghan Refugees and Convener of Pakistan Policy Group at Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, Islamabad (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo

A group photo of Afghan journalists with Secretary Information and Press Secretary of Chief Minister Punjab at Lahore (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan / Arslan Barijo Pakistani journalists meeting with the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah at Kabul, Afghanistan (2017) Photo by FES Afghanistan

A group photo of Pakistani journalists with the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah at Kabul, Afghanistan (2017) Photo by FES Afghanistan Pakistani journalists meeting with Mr. Salahuddin Rabbani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at Kabul (2017) Photo by FES Afghanistan

A group photo of Pakistani journalists with Mr. Salahuddin Rabbani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at Kabul (2017) Photo by FES Afghanistan A group photo of Pakistani journalists after landing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan

Pakistani journalists posing for a photo at Kabul, Afghanistan (2017) Photo by FES Pakistan At Ariana News studio, Kabul, Afghanistan (2017) Photo by FES Afghanistan

At Ariana News studio, Kabul, Afghanistan (2017) Photo by FES Afghanistan At Ariana News studio, Kabul, Afghanistan (2017) Photo by FES Afghanistan Mr. Rahimullah Yusufzai is a senior journalist and political and security analyst for Pakistan’s largest television network Geo TV. Currently, he is serving at The News International as its Resident Editor for Peshawar. He is also a correspondent for the BBC, working for its Urdu, Pashto, Hindi and English radio services. He contributes articles to the monthly Newsline in Karachi, the Gulf News in Dubai and other national and international publications. He has held positions in Pakistan’s journalists unions.

He was among the first journalists to report the rise of the Taliban in Kandahar in early 1995. He was also the first to interview Taliban movement founder Mullah Mohammad Omar and interviewed Osama bin Laden twice in 1998.

Mr. Yusufzai has been reporting on the Afghan conflict since 1978 and has widely travelled in Afghanistan. He has also reported and analyzed the conflict in Pakistan’s tribal areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Balochistan. He has co-authored books on Afghanistan, the Taliban and al-Qaeda and has received the civil awards - Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award in 2004 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily award in 2009 - from the Government of Pakistan those of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. for his achievements in the field of journalism.