Sandwiched Between Clinton, Taliban

ISLAMABAD – Many members of Pakistan’s independent media believe they are being sandwiched between the US and Taliban, with each accusing the media of working for the other.

“We are not favoring or opposing any one,” Khushnood Ali Khan, Secretary General of the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE), a professional body of Pakistani editors, told IslamOnline.net.

“Being journalists, it is our duty to report the facts, which we do and will continue to do.”

US Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton, currently on a three-day visit to Pakistan, has recently expressed dissatisfaction with the Pakistani media.

She said the US would respond “aggressively” to the misreporting of Pakistani media.

“We should understand the actual message behind her statement,” said Khan.

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“The aggressive policy means the US will either hit or oblige the media. And both cases are unacceptable to us and are against journalistic norms. Both tactics aim to gag the media.”

But a spokesman of the US embassy in Islamabad insisted Clinton was not making any threats.

“It has been taken wrong. The word aggressive doesn’t mean that US will take any action,” Richard Snelsire told IOL.

“It means that US will engage the Pakistani media, which usually responds slowly to various issues,” he explained.

“There are several reports, for instance presence of US marines in Pakistan, which are completely untrue. And what she meant was that this phenomenon needs to be addressed through engagement rather than any kind of action.”

Taliban Threats

Taliban, too, issued a stern warning to the media for playing into the hands of America and its allies.

“Pakistani media is playing one-sided role,” Tariq Azam, a purported Taliban spokesman, told IOL from an unknown location via satellite phone.

“If it does not desist from that, we will react accordingly.”

The Taliban spokesman accused the media of propagating the government’s point of view only.

“This means that it (media) is part of the US propaganda campaign.”

Taliban have banned the entry of any non-local journalists to North Waziristan, the stronghold of Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, who remains neutral in the current war between the army and Taliban militants in South Waziristan.

Bahadur has allowed only a few local journalists who can perform their responsibilities after getting prior permission from local Taliban so that their security be ensured.

“If the media presents our point of view too, then it can be considered an independent media. But if it doesn’t do that, then it will also be on our target list,” Tariq thundered.

Security has been tightened around newspapers and TV channels offices following the threats.

“Pakistani media should get ready to fight another war to keep its independence intact in current circumstances,” says a defiant Khan.