Taliban authorities have suspended the BBC’s FM radio broadcasts across Afghanistan, cutting off one of the broadcaster’s main channels for reaching an audience it says numbers 5.4 million people in the country.
Speaking to the Taliban-run national broadcaster, RTA, Khabib Ghufran, spokesman for the Taliban-run Ministry of Information and Culture, said the BBC’s broadcasts in Afghanistan had been suspended following what he described as “repeated violations.” He did not provide details about the alleged violations.
The BBC confirmed the suspension in a statement Monday, saying Taliban authorities had halted its transmissions from FM radio sites across Afghanistan.
“The Afghan authorities have suspended the transmission of the BBC from FM radio sites across Afghanistan,” a BBC spokesperson said.
The broadcaster said it continues to report in Pashto, Dari and English for audiences in Afghanistan through shortwave and medium-wave radio, online platforms and satellite broadcasts.
“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 spokesperson said.
The BBC says it reaches 5.4 million people in Afghanistan, representing more than 20% of the country’s adult population.
It was not immediately clear when the suspension took effect, how long it would remain in place or what conditions Taliban authorities have set for allowing the BBC’s FM broadcasts to resume.
The Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture has also not said whether the suspension affects other BBC services in Afghanistan or whether similar measures have been imposed on other international broadcasters.
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