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Pakistani TV anchors, journalists celebrate as Kabul falls to Taliban

Taliban insurgents entered Kabul on Sunday and President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed, bringing the Islamist militants close to taking over the country two decades after they were overthrown by a U.S.-led invasion.

Taliban’s victory seemed to divide Pakistani social media users especially journalists as they reacted to the situation in Afghanistan.

A large number of Pakistani TV anchors fond of wearing western clothes and leading lavish lifestyles openly supported the Taliban and mocked Ashraf Ghani for his failure.

Anchor Imran Riaz Khan, Irshad Bhatti, journalist Ansar Abbasi, Tariq Mateen, Orya Maqbool Jan and many other prominent anchors cheered on the Taliban as they conquered Kabul. Imran Riaz retweeted dozens of posts mocking Ashraf Ghani and celebrating Taliban victory. The anchor and Vlogger also taunted Malala Yousafzai when she reacted to the crisis in Afghanistan.

Many other journalists who have visited the United States on various exchange programs also came out as the supporters of the Taliban.

Some local journalists associated with the Pakistani and foreign English newspapers lamented the events in Afghanistan and reminded fellow media persons that the Afghan Taliban support and shelter the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a banned outfit that has killed thousands of people including children in the Army Public School in 2014.

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