Taliban declare war on media

E-Paper | May 02, 2026

WASHINGTON: The Taliban have warned the Pakistani media that if they did not stop criticising the Mujahedeen, they will be attacked and “no crying and sobbing” will prevent the holy warriors from punishing journalists.

In a message sent to media advocacy groups across the world, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan also warned that the journalists would not get the chance to repent their mistakes if they did not stop the criticism now.

Know more: Press club in Khuzdar closed after threats to journalists

The message, signed TTP media commission, Mohmand Agency, reminded the journalists that the Taliban had tolerated this “unbearable behaviour” from 2000 to 2014 but the time had come to put an end to this practice.

The message — “The global war of ideologies and the behaviour of media” — was sent to “heads and members of organisations working for the rights of media members around the world,” including the Reporters without Borders, and the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The CPJ posted the message on its site.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2014

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siddharth

Aug 06, 2014 07:27am

They are against the government, civilians, army and now against media......don't know whom are they with.

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Agha Ata

Aug 06, 2014 07:51am

I think they need to go to Waziristan and console crying- and sobbing- militants who are facing Pak army.

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Aug 06, 2014 08:03am

Time have come to put an end to Talibans and all their sympathizers. Burn them alive, and then dump their ashes in sewerage. Ban TTP media coverage at the least Dawn.

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illawarrior

Aug 06, 2014 08:05am

If theTaliban wants to avoid bad press, then perhaps it should stop doing bad things. Shooting the messengers does not alter the message.

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Ali

Aug 06, 2014 08:07am

Hey why you people are trying to disturb the innocent people of media. These people are earning bread and butter for their family. If you people are this much of courageous then test your ability to support Palestinian.

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UnshacklePakistan

Aug 06, 2014 08:13am

Now that Taliban are unable to kill high profile targets, they turn to those who can't defend themselves. A move that shows how desperate they must be to show they can kill someone. Wait until the noose tightens more. Perhaps they'll turn to killing one another. Thugs remain thugs no matter they grow a beard or not. I say blog away anonymously and make them sweat for it. Anonymous journalism coming your way. UnshacklePakistan

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Amir

Aug 06, 2014 08:48am

Dear holy warriors of TTP please go to Gaza and roar against Israel.

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Aftab Alam Khan

Aug 06, 2014 08:57am

In the wake of final Zerb-e Azb operation being carried out against outlawed,how this TTP warning threatening journalist / media sounds?

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Yawar

Aug 06, 2014 08:57am

So they want the media to portray how peace loving, mild mannered, civilized and innocent they are?

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baakhlaq

Aug 06, 2014 09:01am

Journalists who can talk against Taliban are already few and far between,let them live they can't stop you but at least they can give you sane advice.

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mohammadnoonnanna

Aug 06, 2014 09:22am

@siddharth Whose touts they are..................USA. The USA can count the flying feathers but can't hunt them because they are their men, otherwise the Americans can trace the movements od ants under the earth. Wonder why they are not hunt.

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Ahmad

Aug 06, 2014 09:55am

They hide from the hit of the army, can't face the bullet, now they are using their last option for the innocent journalists.

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El Cid

Aug 06, 2014 10:18am

Responsible media should be fair and balanced. That will earn it respect and trust, not hate and vengeance. When it becomes a weapon of war to demonize one party then the other is morally justified to correct it, balance the equation, silence the weapon...as it sees fit, necessary.

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True

Aug 06, 2014 10:33am

They should take care Pakistan Army who trained them to to go kill innocent civilian people in the name of Islam.

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Farhan

Aug 06, 2014 10:34am

So they were not against the media before?

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El Cid

Aug 06, 2014 10:34am

@illawarrior :"If theTaliban wants to avoid bad press, then perhaps it should stop doing bad things. Shooting the messengers does not alter the message." Pak Khaki Establishment and 'Alphabets' seem to have intimidated the media, the freedom of the press, muffled beyond silence...such that there is no message. Except that their silence is loud and clear, informing those who can hear.

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El Cid

Aug 06, 2014 10:36am

@siddharth: "They are against the government, civilians, army and now against media......don't know whom are they with." The Truth Absolute !

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sameer

Aug 06, 2014 10:51am

Happy Independence Day to Great Sovereign Pakistan.

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Ambreen

Aug 06, 2014 10:52am

@Yawar: "So they want the media to portray how peace loving, mild mannered, civilized and innocent they are?" No they want the media to tell the truth. Avoid one sided propaganda. Tell the reality of Swat and Waziristan. Tell the truth of what has been done there. That is not asking for too much from the media. Is it?

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Safar Shah

Aug 06, 2014 10:57am

@MP For that we need to ban their political wing, PTI

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Beck

Aug 06, 2014 11:00am

Thank you for giving new task to Pak Army in Mahmand Agency. Now start counting your days Mr. Khurasani!

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Ali

Aug 06, 2014 12:33pm

True don't blame Pakistan Army, if you recall the USA originated all this militants against former USSR, am i right? so please before comments on Pakistan Army think before writing.

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Proud Pakistani

Aug 06, 2014 12:57pm

@siddharth They are with PTI!!!

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ala

Aug 06, 2014 01:04pm

It is interesting to see intelligent people supporting Palestine cause but not Pakistan muslims suffrring from talibans. Do they feel ok if Muslims kill Muslims

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Realist

Aug 06, 2014 01:06pm

@ Amir, You have put it correctly, if TTP had anything to do with Holy War or Islam, why dont they go and fight for Palestinians, instead of beheading muslims in Pakistan.

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Pakistani

Aug 06, 2014 01:19pm

Dear Media, these terrorists of TTP are loosing foothold, therefore trying these cheap tactics of intimidating people and media. Please stop reporting any of their point of view or statements and inshallah they will fade away.

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Amir khan

Aug 06, 2014 01:47pm

@El Cid please go join the ttp and await bombardment

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Bahadur

Aug 06, 2014 01:53pm

Now the cowardice of Pakistani Journalism stands Exposed.

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Moiz Omar

Aug 06, 2014 02:17pm

These TTP terrorists need to be completely destroyed. Keep killing them Pakistan Armed Forces. We the citizens of Pakistan are with you in this regard.

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skeptic

Aug 06, 2014 02:38pm

@Proud Pakistani And you i believe are with Mughals of Lahore

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ROBINSON- New Delhi

Aug 06, 2014 03:20pm

All you Pakistani guys can do is take out your anger here such sites but don't have guts to go and fight out these inhuman people, hope you can that soon you will turn into another Afghanistan- time to take actions now and the whole world will support or wait and watch in few years what happens to Pakistan, go back to histriy and learn how we all got rid of Mighty British, get united and fight these guys out....

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Bonnie

Aug 06, 2014 03:25pm

@Ali why do u keep blaming USA ? The action in Afghanistan at the time of USSR was not unilateral. You were willing to get paid to do the job. General Zia took huge amount of dollars to get involved into that. No one had forced you or your country to take the dollars and fight against Russia in the name of jihad. It was a battle which u all now claim led to disintegration of former Soviet Union so either take the credit or suck it up. Blaming USA is the national game or pastime it seems.

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Asad Sultan

Aug 06, 2014 03:42pm

@MP you taliking about people who call them their sons(sami ul haq) and brothers(imran khan)?

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Pakistani

Aug 06, 2014 04:56pm

Taliban do not waste you and your generation precious lives in fighting we can sit together and sort out our issues with peace and honor.

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dv1936

Aug 06, 2014 05:18pm

A sad situation.

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Jayanta

Aug 06, 2014 06:35pm

The first pic says it all. Kudos to the person who drawn it. Hats off. I really liked it. cheers.

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ladies and gentlemen

Aug 06, 2014 07:25pm

@El Cid What a load of nonsense. TTP consists of a bunch of uneducated disgruntled losers who couldn't make a civilized living on their own. Now they are hiding and threatening journalists. You should come out of the caves and do some good.

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Last Word

Aug 06, 2014 11:18pm

If Taliban are true followers of Islam, they should have never killed thousands of innocent people including women and children instead fought the security forces only. The use of force is prohibited for enforcing Islamic ideology and conversion. The people of Pakistan have already rejected Taliban ideology and such threats will only lower their stock even further.

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Fa121

Aug 07, 2014 06:22am

they r just establishments' people posing as taliban to keep media in check.. security agencies do these job all round the world.

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El Cid

Aug 07, 2014 09:15am

@ladies and gentlemen :"TTP consists of a bunch of uneducated disgruntled losers Now they are hiding and threatening journalists. You should come out of the caves and do some good." The facts suggest otherwise: They have routed two international hegemons in the battlefield. Now, taken on the full mighty of their proxy. When media becomes a weapon of war it opts to be a target. Giving the courtesy of fair balanced coverage to all is professional journalism...its best protection. Having defeated the best of West Point and Sandhurst, these warriors have taken on all their proxy Kakul has to offer. You confuse guerilla tactics and stratagems with "hiding in caves". Big mistake ! Underestimating the enemy can be a fatal !! [Your loss, not mine, if this piece of professional wisdom does not get published].

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dyzney

Aug 07, 2014 02:14pm

Why are we listening to these people. No such group should exist or should have any MEDIA coverage. I think its a matter of national securty. The army should take care of it, send them back from where they came from, and tighten the borders. Any such group should be abolished in the beginning.

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