As recalled in the State Department, referring to the data of the International Federation of Journalists, after representatives of the Taliban movement* came to power in Afghanistan, 318 media outlets stopped working in the country.

These included dozens of local TV channels, radio stations and other resources. 

Against this background, the Public Diplomacy Section of the United States Embassy announced that it was accepting applications for participation in a project "to support freedom of the media and freedom of expression in most provinces of Afghanistan."

Future contractors will have to work in areas related, among other things, to the safety of journalists, the lack of access to information, as well as the peculiarities of coordination between organizations to protect the media and freedom of speech.

The grant is planned to be allocated for one year, and the maximum amount of funding will be $500,000. If necessary, the program can be extended for the same period and additionally pay the same amount, the document specifies. 

“The project aims to address some of the major barriers that prevent journalists from risk-free reporting, informing the public and making a living.

This will help preserve freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Afghanistan,” the grant description reads. 

According to Konstantin Blokhin, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Afghanistan is a territory for the United States that allows it to put pressure on key players in Eurasia - China, India, Russia and the countries of Central Asia.

“Probably, this goal can be achieved with the help of the support of the Afghan media.

I don't think they will succeed, because it is quite difficult to lobby for liberal values ​​in a Muslim country.

Moreover, it is important to consider that in Afghanistan at least one generation has grown up hating Americans during the period of American occupation.

It is also possible that such a media support program could be aimed at creating chaos - for example, forming the basis for the emergence of new radical organizations, ”he said in an interview with RT.

In addition, the expert recalled that participation in the Afghan campaign cost the Americans about $2 trillion.

According to Blokhin, despite the scale of funding, Washington has not achieved any tangible results in Afghanistan.

“Of course, the States would like to maintain their influence in the country.

Therefore, now the Americans are trying to at least somehow "catch" in Afghanistan.

In particular, in the media sphere, the United States is trying to make up for what could not be achieved by brute military force, ”RT said.

On August 31, 2021, US military personnel left Afghanistan after 20 years of "fighting terrorism".

During their stay in the country, the Americans lost more than 2 thousand people, another 20 thousand were injured.

According to the Associated Press, more than 47,000 civilians were killed in Afghanistan during the same period.

The decision of the President of the United States Joe Biden to withdraw the military contingent from the republic has been repeatedly criticized.

* "Taliban" - the organization is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.