Time To Act Against Disobedience, Says Taliban Leader

The organisation said that since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have continued to enforce a wide range of laws designed to control the country’s image, suppress oversight of government and impose their own propaganda.

Afghanistan ranked 122nd in 2021 before the Taliban takeover. After taking over power, the country dropped 34 places to 156, then stood at 152 in 2023. Continued repression saw Afghanistan fall to 178 in 2024, before slightly improving to 175 last year.

Unprecedented Global Decline in Press Freedom

For the first time in the history of the index, more than half of countries are now classified as having a “difficult” or “very serious” press freedom situation.

Over the past 25 years, the average score of all countries and regions has declined.

RSF said the steady expansion of restrictive legal frameworks since 2001—particularly those linked to national security—has increasingly undermined access to information, even in democratic countries.

Five Indicators and Rising Criminalisation

The index assesses countries based on five indicators: political, legal, economic, socio-cultural and security conditions. The legal indicator saw the sharpest decline this year, reflecting the growing criminalisation of journalism worldwide.

Conditions worsened in 60% of countries (110 out of 180) between 2025 and 2026, including in countries such as India, Egypt, Israel and Georgia. Repressive laws and misuse of emergency powers have made criminalising journalism a global trend.

Rankings: Norway First, Eritrea Last

Norway has ranked first for the 10th consecutive year, while Eritrea remains last for the 13th year in a row.

Syria recorded the biggest improvement, rising 36 places following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government.

The United States dropped several places, while countries such as Ecuador and Peru also saw significant declines.

Lowest Average Score in 25 Years

RSF said press freedom has steadily deteriorated since it began publishing the index 25 years ago. Journalists continue to be killed and imprisoned, while new methods—such as political hostility, economic pressure on media and legal tools—are increasingly used to weaken press freedom.

More than 52% of the world’s countries now fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories, compared with just 13.7% in 2002. Meanwhile, the share of the global population living in countries with “good” press freedom has dropped from about 20% to less than 1%.

Wars and Restrictions on Information

RSF said prolonged conflicts in countries such as Iraq, Sudan and Yemen are major drivers of declining press freedom.

It added that the war in Gaza since October 2023 has made the territory one of the most dangerous places for journalists, stating that “220 journalists have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli army.”

In countries such as China, North Korea and Eritrea, press freedom is constrained by political deadlock and repression, with journalists like Dawit Isaak imprisoned for over 25 years.

Eastern Europe and the Middle East have seen some of the steepest declines over the past quarter century.

RSF said Russia under Vladimir Putin remains among the worst countries for press freedom, while Iran ranks 177th due to internal repression and ongoing conflict with Israel.

Misuse of National Security Laws

RSF said that since the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States, national security laws have increasingly been used to restrict reporting on public affairs. This trend, common in authoritarian regimes, is also evident in democracies, often under the guise of counterterrorism.

Even in democracies, restrictive laws are growing. In Japan, state secrecy laws limit journalism; in the Philippines, terrorism charges are used against journalists; in Hong Kong, strict national security laws have led to the imprisonment of independent publishers; in Turkiye, anti-terror laws are used to suppress media; and in Tunisia, “false information” laws are used to criminalise journalism.

“The US falling apart under Donald Trump”

RSF said that since 2022, the overall ranking of 28 countries in the Americas has declined significantly. It added that Donald Trump has made repeated attacks on the press part of a systematic policy, contributing to the US falling to 64th place.

Cuts to the US Agency for Global Media have had global consequences, leading to closures, suspensions and downsizing of outlets such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia.

“Latin America in Decline”

Countries affected by organised crime and violence against journalists have seen sharp drops. Ecuador (125th) fell 31 places, while Peru (144th) was affected by the murder of four journalists.

Press freedom guarantees in Venezuela remain uncertain, while Cuba (160th) and Nicaragua (168th) continue to face deep crises and systematic repression of journalists.

Asia-Pacific

In 21 out of 32 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, press freedom is classified as “difficult” or “very serious”.

RSF said the region remains one of the most repressive, driven by legal attacks on the press, defamation laws and strict regulations. Censorship and propaganda tactics led by China are expanding beyond borders.

North Korea (179th) remains one of the most closed regimes, where independent journalism is effectively banned, while in China (178th) authorities continue to expand repressive tools.

Criminalisation from India to the Philippines

Even in more democratic settings, legal frameworks are increasingly used to silence newsrooms. In India (157th), judicial harassment of independent media is intensifying. In Pakistan (153rd), the press faces ongoing restrictions amid political tensions.

In the Philippines (114th), terrorism charges have become a preferred tool to silence journalists.

Democracies Under Pressure

Even established democracies face legal pressures. In Japan (62nd), secrecy laws contribute to self-censorship. In South Korea (47th), government efforts to counter disinformation have raised concerns among press freedom groups.

No country in the region ranks among the top 20 globally. New Zealand (22nd), despite a slight decline, remains a regional model for press freedom.

In the report published on Wednesday, no exact figures were given for the number of those killed or injured.

However, preliminary data indicate that up to 7,500 homes have been damaged or destroyed.

OCHA warned that protection risks in flood-affected areas have risen sharply; more than 14,000 people are at risk of gender-based violence. In addition, the movement of unexploded ordnance and mines by floodwaters is threatening the lives of around 2.7 million people in contaminated areas.

The agency added that from 17 April to 26 April this year, large areas of agricultural land were destroyed by flooding, putting the livelihoods of thousands of rural families at risk.

The report said the floods have deepened humanitarian needs and increased the risk of food insecurity, the spread of diseases and homelessness.

According to OCHA, immediate priorities include emergency shelter, safe water, healthcare services and food assistance.

The agency said humanitarian partners are responding, with the delivery of rescue equipment and services, temporary shelter, and water and sanitation support under way.

At the same time, assessment teams have been deployed to various provinces to provide more accurate estimates of casualties, damage and needs, so that continued aid can be planned based on field data.

OCHA said that urgent needs for 56,900 people have so far been confirmed; aid teams have reached around 31,000 people with emergency assistance, including food, cash, temporary shelter and health services. Assessments in 34 districts are still ongoing, and the number of people in need is expected to rise.

Critics and experts say the Taliban’s excessive focus on social restrictions has sidelined crisis management and the rebuilding of deteriorating infrastructure.

While seasonal floods have long threatened lives and livelihoods, Taliban authorities have, instead of investing in infrastructure, allocated a large share of Afghanistan’s resources to their security and propaganda apparatus. Critics say the lack of disaster preparedness is now imposing heavy costs on the poorest segments of society, who have been left stranded in floodwaters and mud.

Meanwhile, restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women’s participation in aid organisations have reportedly affected the effectiveness of assessment teams in disaster-hit areas.

According to the sources, the meeting is being held with the approval of both the Taliban administration and the Pakistani government, and with the support of Turkiye.

Participants linked to the Taliban include Jafar Mahdavi, Atif Mashal, Ghuncha Gul Arman, Obaidullah Bahir and Sulaiman Bin Shah.

From Pakistan, participants include Mushahid Hussain, Sitara Ayaz, Asif Durrani, Senator Abdul Qadir Khan and Hamid Mir.

Sources said the agenda includes issues such as the activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State in Afghanistan, border clashes, continued Pakistani air and ground strikes, economic conditions and the issue of migrants.

They added that the aim of the talks is to find ways to reduce tensions and explore practical mechanisms for managing border and security crises. Proposals discussed include intelligence sharing, measures to prevent clashes along the border, and facilitating movement for civilians and traders between the two countries.

The participants in Istanbul are holding talks with the tacit approval of the Taliban administration and the Pakistani government, within an informal but coordinated process mediated by Turkiye.

Several rounds of formal talks between the Taliban administration and the Pakistani government in Doha, Istanbul, Riyadh and Urumqi have failed to yield results. Pakistan continues its attacks on eastern Afghan provinces, causing civilian casualties and damage.

At the same time, Pakistan has expanded its ties with Taliban opponents, with some anti-Taliban groups reportedly seeking to open political offices in Pakistan.

The meeting included reports from various provinces, which were shared with commission members and Mullah Yaqoob.

Bakhtar News Agency reported that, following the assessments, decisions were taken to address existing problems in a timely and effective manner.

The Taliban did not disclose details of the discussions or the specific security challenges they are facing.

The meeting comes as Pakistani attacks on various parts of Afghanistan have continued in recent days.

Pakistani security sources told Dawn on Wednesday, April 29, that their forces had destroyed several Afghan Taliban posts and vehicles in the Chaman area. According to the sources, the operation was carried out in response to what they described as “aggression” by Afghan Taliban and armed groups along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Earlier this week, on Monday, Pakistani forces also carried out deadly attacks on various areas in Kunar, including the provincial capital.

The ministry said on Wednesday, April 29, that the devices had been operating illegally in Yakawlang district of Bamiyan province.

In recent years, some Afghan citizens, particularly in remote areas, have sought to use satellite networks to access the internet and online education. For some girls barred from schooling, this technology has provided a way to attend online classes.

Starlink is a satellite internet network owned by Elon Musk and the company SpaceX, connecting users directly to satellites via small ground dishes. The system does not rely on fiber optics or domestic telecom networks, allowing relatively high-speed internet even in remote areas.

The Taliban have restricted public use of the network, despite earlier reports that some Taliban officials themselves have used Starlink.

Afghanistan International reported last year that a number of Taliban officials had accessed the internet via the satellite network, at a time when public internet access was restricted in parts of Afghanistan.