In brief
The Taliban government has halted BBC FM radio transmissions across Afghanistan, citing repeated violations, though it did not specify the nature of the breaches. The BBC remains the sole international outlet officially broadcasting within the country, vital for a large portion of the population, especially women seeking educational content. While FM services have stopped, the BBC will keep delivering news on shortwave, medium wave, online and satellite platforms in Pashto, Dari and English. The move continues a broader tightening of media under Taliban rule, limiting music, co‑presentation broadcasting, and access to female voices.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government has suspended the transmission of BBC broadcasts from FM radio sites across the country.
A Taliban spokesman said the BBC was suspended over "repeated violations," though no details were given. The BBC remains the only international news organisation still officially broadcasting in Afghanistan, after two U.S. outlets were banned in 2022.
Millions depend on the BBC for accurate news and information, and the broadcaster said it is working with authorities to address the problem. It will continue to report fairly and independently in Pashto, Dari and English on shortwave, medium‑wave, online and satellite channels.
The service reaches more than 20% of Afghanistan’s adult population each week, including educational programming for girls who have been prohibited from attending secondary school.
The Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture spokesman Khubaib Ghufran told local media that the suspension was a response to "some repeated violations" by the BBC, and would remain in place for the time being.
Under the Taliban regime, media operations are tightly controlled. Music is banned from broadcast and women no longer appear on air alongside men. While social media platforms are still available, widespread lack of electricity, high costs and low literacy rates limit access.
The BBC Afghanistan service has been operating since 1981.
