BBC FM radio transmissions suspended in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has suspended the transmission of BBC broadcasts from FM radio sites across the country.

A Taliban government spokesman said the BBC had been suspended because of “repeated violations” but did not elaborate.

The BBC has been the only international news organisation to broadcast inside Afghanistan since two US outlets were banned from operating in the country in 2022.

“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 broadcaster said in a statement.

The BBC said it was “continuing to report fairly and independently in Pashto, Dari and English to our audiences in Afghanistan, on shortwave and medium wave radio, online and via satellite”.

It reaches more than 20% of the adult population in Afghanistan each week with news and other output, including educational programming aimed at girls who have been banned from secondary schools.

Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture spokesman Khubaib Ghufran told local media: “Due to some repeated violations by the BBC media outlet, it is decided that for time being its activity is suspended across the country.”

The Taliban government has a tight grip on media operating in the country.

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

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

The BBC’s Afghan service has been operating since 1981.