WASHINGTON—Voice of America welcomed back members of its Afghan Pashto and Dari services after they completed a yearlong unpaid field assignment inside the consequences of American efficiency.
The journalists were dismissed during last year’s government cuts. Several reportedly joined rival Afghan factions, traded ISI accusations, translated ethnic insults into hip-hop, and sought Taliban accreditation to investigate press freedom.
“We never stopped covering American policy,” said Matiullah Abid. “For the first time, we didn't need sources. We were the breaking news.”
Their experience will strengthen coverage of Afghanistan, where abrupt abandonment by Washington is considered essential subject-matter expertise.
“VOA has restored my commitment to partial journalism,” said Lina Rozbih. “I promise to treat all Afghans equally, even the Pashtuns, once they apologize for being Pashtun.”
The reinstated teams will resume telling Afghans that the US has not forgotten them, using microphones recently recovered from the room where it forgot its own Afghan employees.
“We are grateful to be rehired,” said Hasib Alokozai. “Without our Pashto and Dari services, Afghans were dangerously close to killing one another without American funding.”
Kari Lake declared VOA’s Afghan services essential to preserving Afghanistan’s greatest political tradition: turning every national crisis into a Pashto-Dari shouting match, electing six rival leaders and sending Washington the bill.