Misleading the Public with Unconfirmed News
How can people be misled and confused by a single piece of news? During the United Nations Secretary-General’s meeting with special representatives of countries on Afghanistan, Afghanistan International News Network reported that a diplomatic source told its correspondent that the Doha meeting was the beginning of the process of recognizing the Taliban. The network was so confident in this news that it repeatedly broadcast it, leading many to believe that the closed-door meeting was indeed the start of the process of recognizing the Taliban.
On the same day, a former Afghan diplomat who had spoken with a number of diplomats participating in the Doha meeting told this network that the participants had informed Afghan women that the recognition of the Taliban was not on the agenda. However, this news organization continued to report on the issue, relying on the credibility of the diplomatic source.
The Worthlessness of Unconfirmed News
On another day, the United Nations Secretary-General made it clear that recognizing the Taliban was not discussed at the meeting, rendering all reports and conversations on this issue from Afghanistan International News Network pointless and invalid. What remained were the disturbed minds of those who had been upset by the news.
In some cases, the truth or falsehood of media news requires search and investigation. Such claims do not last long, and issues will soon become clear. Therefore, one day after raising this issue, this network was still relying on this unconfirmed claim.
Relying on a Single Source
Afghanistan International Network aired this news story from a diplomat who apparently requested anonymity. On the other hand, special representatives from various countries on Afghan affairs were gathered at Sharq Hotel. Why was this claim not raised with other diplomats, and why was it not verified with sources in the United Nations for accuracy?
This raises another question: Did a diplomat actually make such a statement, or was the network simply trying to generate excitement and sensationalism by publicizing such claims?
The Possibility of Recognizing the Taliban Officially
Western diplomats have always criticized the Taliban’s behavior, saying that there is no sign of recognition for the Taliban in such circumstances. Violations of human rights, preventing women and girls from continuing their education and work in non-governmental organizations, and restricting the media have greatly reduced the likelihood of recognizing the Taliban, and no country dares to raise the issue of recognizing the Taliban in such circumstances.
Earlier, Amina Mohammed, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, had said that the Secretary-General of the United Nations would discuss steps to identify the Taliban at the Doha meeting, but this statement was later denied by United Nations spokespersons.
How False News Misleads People
Afghanistan International Network claimed that the Doha meeting was starting a process to officially recognize the Taliban and repeatedly broadcasted this news, conducting interviews with former officials and experts. However, in the end, this false news story was debunked.
In conclusion, the media must take extra care in reporting news to ensure that it is accurate and based on reliable sources. False news can cause panic and confusion among the public, and as such, it is essential that news organizations confirm their stories before publishing them.
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