Afghanistan has recently been hit by severe earthquakes. The Kunar province has already fallen victim to this natural disaster four consecutive times. Severe damage has been observed. While everyone is shocked and grieving, the media seized this opportunity to promote their old narrative. And that is – the failure of the Taliban government. Injured women in the earthquake allegedly are not receiving care and no one is coming to rescue the trapped women. Is this actually true? Let’s conduct a post-mortem today.

Where it all began

The New York Times comes forward as the mastermind. They published a report titled After Afghan Quake, Many Male Rescuers Helped Men but Not Women. The main role behind publishing this report was played by journalist Fatima Faizi, who has been practicing journalism in Afghanistan since 2017.

Then comes another player, named Fatemeh Rezaei, who told DW, “Male family members (in Afghanistan) do not let strangers see their women or daughters. They (men) don’t even want strangers to help them (women).” Based on Fatemeh’s statement, journalist Shabnam von Hein beautifully published a report titled Afghanistan quake: Why are women struggling to get help?

What happens next? Zoom Bangla News, Hindustan Times, The Daily Star and Dhaka Post along with many domestic and foreign media outlets began to extensively present half-reality information skillfully. Facebook also heated up, with extensive criticism.

Media Cunning

I mentioned earlier that Fatima Faizi has been practicing journalism in Afghanistan as a Western agent for about 8 years, which becomes clear when you look at her old reports. So in continuation of that mentality, she claimed that women in Kunar are not being rescued.

The interesting thing is, this same New York Times had created the false basis for Iraq having destructive weapons. Besides, they were in the front line creating narratives in favor of American military aggression in Afghanistan. The interesting thing is, this same New York Times had created the false basis for Iraq having destructive weapons. Besides, they were in the front line creating narratives in favor of American military aggression in Afghanistan.

Now let’s get to know Fatemeh Rezaei and Shabnam von Hein. Fatemeh Rezaei is currently studying Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS). She is not an established academician. Therefore, it’s not clear on what basis DW gave priority to her opinion in such a sensitive incident. Oh, one more thing, Gender and Sexuality Studies is actually a major tool of the LGBTQ movement.

Anyway, now I come to Shabnam von Hein. This female journalist mainly writes about Iran and Afghanistan (two neighboring countries). And the basis of her writing about Afghanistan is the so-called barbarism of the Taliban. In every case, she tries to show that Afghan citizens are not well due to Taliban oppression. Two such reports of hers are How ‘safe’ is Afghanistan under the Taliban? and Afghan refugees in Iran: Deported to uncertainty, where she has subtly blamed the Taliban government in every line.

A more important matter is that where natural disasters occur, naturally women and children are most affected, whether it be in Afghanistan or the United States. Moreover, most of those who died in Kunar were women and children. Because they were at home and most men were out working.^[1]Afghanistan quake leaves most vulnerable – women and girls – in dire situation. (Oct 11, 2023). The United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency. Retrieved September 7, 2025, from https://www.unfpa.org/news/afghanistan-quake-leaves-most-vulnerable-%E2%80%93-women-and-girls-%E2%80%93-dire-situation

Many of the rescue workers felt hesitant to rescue, and such mentality was seen in providing services as well. This is true. But this happened due to the habit of following strict laws during normal times (which is logical) and moral practices (showing respect) that have been going on for years. Therefore, mistakes were made in making correct decisions suddenly in such sensitive situations. But journalists have presented this at the level of oppression or crime.

Afghanistan is an earthquake-prone region. And this time the earthquake has struck 4 times, affecting Pakistan as well. In this situation, what is the media trying to prove by only reviewing casualties without considering the severity of the earthquake?

So where the cunning started, there is room to raise questions about yellow journalism or misinformation. There is room for legitimate criticism of the Taliban government in the whole matter (I’ll come to this later). But the media did not care about logic at all, rather they spread propaganda through cherry picking (selective information gathering) with the same old framing.

Women are not neglected

Women affected by the severe earthquake in Kunar say they are facing challenges in getting medical care. Kamruzana, a resident of Dewagal Valley in Sawkai district of the province, said that fifteen members of her family were affected (killed and injured) in the disaster. Many other women have suffered serious physical injuries alongside losing loved ones. However, many are now expressing satisfaction that female doctors are treating them.^[2]Hope Amid Tragedy: Female Doctors Treat Women Injured in Kunar Quake, Tolonews, 4th Sep 2025 https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-195658

Nurses at active health centers in the affected areas say that treatment of injured women has begun and those who need more medical care are being transferred to other healthcare centers.

UNFPA has deployed seven mobile health teams. Staff have also been deployed to Herat provincial hospital, where the injured are being treated and counselors have arrived to provide psychosocial support in temporary shelters. Dignity kits containing equipment like soap, underwear and menstrual pads are also being distributed. Plans have also been made to supply blankets and tarpaulins for safe delivery and post-delivery mothers and newborns. ^[3]Afghanistan quake leaves most vulnerable – women and girls – in dire situation. (Oct 11, 2023). The United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency. Retrieved September 7, 2025, from https://www.unfpa.org/news/afghanistan-quake-leaves-most-vulnerable-%E2%80%93-women-and-girls-%E2%80%93-dire-situation

15 ambulances have been deployed to transport all the injured and 6 mobile health teams are working in the most affected districts, providing primary care, outpatient treatment, maternal and child health services, vaccinations and essential medicines. That is, special teams are working with women.^[4]WHO. (Sep 3, 2025). WHO steps up response to meet rising health needs after earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan. World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Retrieved September 7, 2025, from https://www.emro.who.int/afg/afghanistan-news/who-steps-up-response-to-meet-rising-health-needs-after-earthquake-in-eastern-afghanistan.html

Although there are shortcomings in these works, it is not at all consistent with the statements of the cunning media. Residents have urgently appealed to the Taliban to allow female doctors to travel to the affected areas to provide life-saving services. The Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health has also previously acknowledged that several eastern provinces are struggling with a shortage of female doctors, which has now worsened the situation.^[5]Deadly Earthquake: Health Centers in Kunar and Nangarhar Face Shortage of Female Doctors, Hasht e Subh Daily, 1 Sep 2025 https://8am.media/eng/deadly-earthquake-health-centers-in-kunar-and-nangarhar-face-shortage-of-female-doctors/

Therefore, even if there is room for criticism, it is true that women are not being neglected arbitrarily. Rather, the whole situation is very tragic and sensitive, which Western media did not describe impartially.

All foxes together

Now many will ask without understanding, “So are all the things everyone is saying false?” Look, there are many examples of all media lying together. This was first established on a large scale through Zionists. Even in Bangladesh, we saw such yellow journalism during the Awami League era. So, it’s not impossible that the media will cunningly lie for geo-political interests.

Anyway, let me come to Afghanistan. There’s a saying, when an elephant falls into a pit, even bats kick it. Even when the United States demanded return of weapons, the Taliban government did not give them, directly rejected the international court and sealed feminism’s mouth. A section of the defeated and humiliated West is desperate to take revenge for so much insult, defeat and shame. Its effect is raising questions about the Taliban government’s foundation by bringing new topics every few days.

The question is, when mothers are martyred in Gaza, when sisters are raped in Arakan, why do the same media remain silent? Not only that, before the Taliban government came, many women were raped in Gaza, but the boss media said nothing then. But the reason for occasionally waking up now can be understood.

Criticism of Taliban

Now you might ask whether the Taliban cannot be criticized? Of course they can be. However, seeing everything through Western glasses is not criticism. Dozens of times we have seen that Western criticism about Afghanistan is one thing and the real situation is another. Such as: women allegedly cannot buy goods, the Taliban allegedly remain silent about forced marriages of girls, etc.

Final words

We also need to be prudent on sensitive issues. There are several things to do like presenting arguments instead of arguing hastily, presenting facts or refraining from blind devotion. This struggle is not just about arguments, its scope is extensive. Along with that, there is the courage to say the right thing by following the right path.