An Afghan presenter found himself trapped in the unenviable position of reading the news while surrounded by armed Taliban fighters, as he told his viewers to “not be afraid.”
The nervous-looking presenter of Afghanistan’s Peace Studio political debate program is seen talking as two extremists look behind him, and six more surround them after they apparently stormed the studio, according to Unilad.
“This is what now looks like a political debate on Afghan television, Taliban standing soldiers guarding the host,” the BBC said. Yalda Hakim said in a tweet.
“The presenter talks about the collapse of the Ghani government and says the Islamic emirate says the Afghan people should not be afraid,” he added about Sunday’s broadcast.
Kian Sharifi, another BBC journalist, also shared the creepy images.
“With the armed Taliban fighters behind him, the presenter of the Afghanistan Television peace study’s political debate program says the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban’s favorite name) wants the public to” cooperate with him and not for “. Sharifi tweeted.
“The program is called Pardaz. In this longer video, the presenter interviews a Taliban fighter who allegedly outperforms the rest of the lot in the studio. The presenter changes from Dari to Pashto, which unfortunately I don’t speak. ” added.
Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad called on President Biden to watch the clip and “let us know if these militants who pose behind this visibly petrified TV presenter have American weapons.”
She wrote: “This is surreal. Taliban militants put behind this visibly petrified TV host with guns and make him say that the people of #Afganistan he should not be afraid of the Islamic emirate.
“The Taliban itself is synonymous with fear in the minds of millions. This is just another proof “, added Alinejad.
The hostage-style video emerged when the Taliban tried to sell a softer image in a propaganda campaign after the last repressive rule by the Islamic militant group about 20 years ago.