Afghanistan bans Pakistani newspapers

Kabul says Pakistan newspapers carry statements of Taliban spokespersons, a source of Taliban propaganda.

KABUL: Afghanistan on Friday banned all Pakistani newspapers from entering the country in an attempt to block the Taliban from influencing public opinion via the press, the Associated Press reported.

The order was issued by the ministry of interior, because Pakistani newspapers publish statements of the Taliban, becoming a conduit for their propaganda.

”The news is not based in reality and it is creating concerns for our countrymen in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan,” the ministry said in a statement. ”Also, the newspapers are a propaganda resource of the Taliban spokespersons.”

The ministry ordered blocking entry of the papers at the Torkham border crossing. They further directed border police to gather up Pakistani newspapers in the three eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.