US underlines protection of press freedom

KABUL (Pajhwok): Press freedom in Afghanistan must be defended as one of the most important gains of the past 19 years, the US chargé d’affaires said on Wednesday.

In a series of tweets, Ross Wilson acknowledged Afghan media workers demonstrated remarkable courage in ensuring transparency and accountability.

“We hear you & we support you. #DoNotTargetJournalists,” the diplomat tweeted, supporting representatives of the Afghanistan Journalists Safety Committee.

“In light of the recent targeted attacks in Helmand, Ghazni, Jalalabad & Kabul that have silenced respected voices in the Afghan media, I met today w/representatives of @ajsc_afg,” he wrote.

Wilson added the US and partner missions wanted to hear directly from Afghanistan’s press and NGO leaders about the threats their colleagues were facing.

“But more than this, we wanted to discuss strategies for security & for assisting reporters who are at risk right now.”

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