Under the headline "Photos.. Taliban Attempts to Engage the World with Historic Interview with Afghan Female Journalist," Sky News Arabia reported that in an unprecedented move, Bahista Argand, one of the presenters from the Afghan news channel, interviewed Mawlawi Abdul Haq Hamad, a member of the Taliban’s media team, about the situation in Kabul. Afghan television news channels resumed broadcasting, showcasing brave female presenters who appeared on screen despite the Taliban's control of the country, a group known for its opposition to even the most basic rights of women.
Tolo News, one of Afghanistan's leading news stations, confirmed that two of its female journalists were reporting live from Kabul, and another interviewed a Taliban media team member live on air in the studio. This comes after reports that female journalists were being removed from on-air duties and confined to their homes out of fear for their safety. Bahista Argand conducted the interview with Mawlawi Abdul Haq Hamad during a program broadcasted by the channel.
Additionally, reporters Hasiba Atakbal and Zahra Rahimi provided field updates on the developments. During their reign in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban banned women and girls from working or attending school, requiring women to cover their faces and be accompanied by a male relative if they wished to leave their homes.
A woman who did not reveal her real name for safety reasons told The Guardian that female journalists were desperately destroying evidence of their work and identities to protect themselves from Taliban fighters. In a press conference, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid affirmed that the Taliban wants women to be active members of society.
