Taliban’s return ‘a catastrophe’ for journalism in Afghanistan

Head of International Federation of Journalists says future is black' for 1,300 journalists still in country

Journalism in Afghanistan is in danger of disappearing, according to the head of the International Federation of Journalists, who said that reporters trying to continue working under the Taliban have been subjected to beatings and imprisonment.

The Taliban don't want to make too many waves right now, but they will want to take control of everything, including the foreign press in Afghanistan," Anthony Bellanger, the IFJ secretary general, told the Guardian. And as often happens in such situations, foreign journalists will be considered agents of foreign governments.