BBC FM radio broadcasts in Afghanistan halted

BBC programs continue to reach audiences via shortwave, medium wave, satellite and online.

By Phelan Chatterjee Reporting from London

Afghanistan's Taliban government has suspended broadcasting of BBC programs from FM radio sites across the country.

A Taliban government spokesman said the BBC had been suspended for "repeated violations", but gave no further details.

BBC is the only international news organization that broadcasts the activities of two American channels in Afghanistan from 2022.

The broadcaster said in a statement: "Millions of people across Afghanistan rely on the BBC for accurate news and information and we are working with the authorities to address the situation.

The BBC said it would "continue to provide fair and independent reporting in Pashto, Dari and English to our audiences in Afghanistan, on short and medium wave radio, online and via satellite."

This news reaches more than 20 percent of the adult population in Afghanistan each week with news and other outlets, including educational programs aimed at girls excluded from secondary schools.

Khabib Ghafran, the spokesman of the Taliban's Ministry of Information and Culture, told local media: "Due to some repeated violations by the BBC media, it has been decided to stop its activities across the country for the time being."

The Taliban government has strict control over the active media in the country.

Music is not played and women are seen less on screen than before the Taliban took power in 2021. Women no longer appear on the air together with men.

People can still use some social media platforms, but lack of electricity in large parts of the country, high costs and low literacy rates remain major obstacles.

BBC's Afghan service has been operating since 1981.