KABUL: Afghan Taliban authorities have restricted media outlets from filming Taliban personnel admitted to hospitals or recording the bodies of those killed following Pakistani airstrikes, according to local sources.
Sources said media organizations, including Afghan Times, have been prevented from recording footage of injured Taliban personnel receiving treatment in hospitals and the bodies of those killed in the strikes.
The restrictions come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban authorities following cross-border military action and allegations concerning militant activity from Afghan territory.
The move has limited independent media access to hospitals and other locations where casualties from the strikes are being treated or transferred. It also makes it difficult for journalists to independently verify casualty figures and document the impact of the reported attacks.
Pakistani authorities have previously linked military action against targets in Afghanistan to security concerns and the presence of militant groups accused of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. Afghan Taliban authorities have condemned such strikes and described them as violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
The exact number of casualties from the latest strikes remains unclear, with different claims emerging amid the ongoing tensions. Independent verification of the figures has also been difficult because of restrictions on access to affected locations.
Further details are expected as local sources and authorities provide additional information about the casualties and the restrictions imposed on media coverage.