US pulls media advisers from Afghan media centres

Advisers pulled after centre aired programme critical of US night raids, US says its part of transition.

KABUL: The United States has withdrawn its advisers from the Afghan government's media centre following a news conference in which NATO air strikes and night raids were heavily criticised.

The US embassy confirmed the withdrawal but said the move had been under consideration for some time and was part of the transition to Afghan control, and that the timing of the press conference was coincidental.

One Government Media and Information Centre (GMIC) staff member criticised the leadership at the centre, saying they were pushing an anti-American agenda and that the United States had good reason to pull out its three advisers.

"GMIC has become completely political. Those who have joined are anti-American and are working for their own goals," he said on condition of anonymity.

Sefatullah Sahaf Safi, the deputy director of the centre, on Wednesday said it was given no notice of the withdrawal and hoped for continued US support. But on Thursday he said he had been ordered not to speak further to the media over the sensitive issue.

"This has been under consideration and happened to coincide with the press conference," US embassy spokesman Gavin Sundwall said.

The United States was "reassessing and reviewing its relationship" with GMIC "and thought it appropriate to withdraw US personnel while that process is under way", a statement from the embassy read.

"We have been planning to transition US personnel and assistance, and that process has begun. We want to ensure that US support and resources are used efficiently and effectively as the transition takes place," the statement said.

NATO-led combat forces, which largely comprise US troops, are being steadily drawn down and Afghan authorities are scheduled to take over full control of security in 2014.

In the press conference on Saturday, a delegation appointed by President Hamid Karzai criticised NATO air strikes and night raids for killing innocent civilians for "no reason".

US funding for the centre has not been withdrawn.