Taliban suspend BBC FM radio broadcasts across Afghanistan over alleged violations
The Taliban government has suspended BBC FM radio programmes nationwide, citing unspecified repeated violations. The BBC, which reaches more than 20% of Afghanistan's adult population each week, says it is working with the authorities to resolve the situation.
Nationwide suspension
Afghan authorities suspended BBC radio broadcasts on FM across the country, the Taliban government confirmed on Tuesday, 13 October. The BBC announced the suspension first and said it was in talks with the Afghan authorities about restoring transmissions. A Taliban government spokesman, Khubaib Ghufran of the Ministry of Information and Culture, said the broadcasts were halted "for time being" because of "repeated violations" by the broadcaster. He did not specify what the violations were.
BBC response
The BBC said it was continuing to report fairly and independently in Pashto, Dari and English to its audiences in Afghanistan, on shortwave and medium wave radio, online and via satellite. The broadcaster issued a statement on the suspension.
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 statement did not give a date for when transmissions might resume. Other BBC-supplied details show that the broadcaster's services in Afghanistan continue through channels other than FM.
Reach and content
The BBC reaches more than 20% of the adult population in Afghanistan each week with news and other output. Its programming includes educational content aimed at girls who have been banned from secondary schools. The BBC has been the only international news organisation broadcasting inside Afghanistan since two US outlets were banned from operating in the country in 2022. Its Afghan service has operated since 1981.
Media under Taliban control
The Taliban government has a tight grip on media operating in the country, and music is not broadcast. Women are less visible on screen than before the Taliban retook power in 2021, and they 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 barriers to access.
