Taliban’s Narrative Faces Growing Challenges Online, Says Group Official
A Taliban official said the group’s messaging channels are weak and warned that failing to compete on social media would allow opposing narratives to gain ground.
A Taliban official said the group’s messaging channels are weak and warned that failing to compete on social media would allow opposing narratives to gain ground.
Saeed Khosti, head of the Department for the Registration of Jihadi Works and Documents at the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, said the “social media battlefield” could not be abandoned. “If we leave this field empty, the enemy’s narrative will grow stronger and the Taliban will be defeated,” he said.
Khosti, who previously headed the propaganda wing of the Haqqani network, was appointed earlier this week to the ministry post. Speaking to online supporters of the Taliban, he said users often first encounter content from media outlets opposed to the group when they log on to social media.
According to him, such messages are repeated frequently throughout the day and influence young people and the broader public.
As an example, he cited criticism of the Taliban’s recently published penal code, saying opponents portray it as lacking justice or equality. He said repeated exposure to such content shapes public perceptions.
Khosti argued that remaining silent would strengthen what he described as the enemy’s narrative and said the Taliban should take the initiative in the media sphere rather than remain defensive.
He also said media outlets opposed to the Taliban exaggerate minor stories to undermine the group’s messaging and described social media as a “live battlefield” requiring sustained attention similar to a military front.
Khosti has previously served as a spokesperson for the Taliban’s Interior Ministry and later as an adviser at the Ministry of Information and Culture.
He has also faced accusations of sexually assaulting a female university student, allegations that have circulated publicly but have not been addressed in detail by Taliban authorities.
