OMM Newsroom
Afghan authorities suspended BBC FM radio broadcasts nationwide on Tuesday, October 13, citing repeated but unspecified violations. The BBC said it was working with officials to restore the service.
The Information and Culture Ministry confirmed the decision. Ministry spokesman Khubaib Ghufran did not specify which rules the broadcaster had violated or when broadcasts might resume.
“It has been decided to temporarily suspend the BBC media outlet’s activities nationwide because of some repeated violations,” Ghufran told local media.
In April 2024, ministry officials urged the BBC to avoid reports and rumors that could deepen divisions among Afghans and to respect the country’s religious and national values. The ministry has not said whether those concerns are connected to the latest decision.
BBC seeks resolution with officials
The BBC said it was in contact with Afghan authorities and stressed the importance of its broadcasts to millions of listeners.
“Millions of people across Afghanistan rely on the BBC for accurate news and information. We are working with the authorities to resolve the situation,” a BBC spokesperson said in a statement.
According to the BBC, about 5.4 million people in Afghanistan use its services each week, accounting for more than one-fifth of the country’s adult population.
Although FM broadcasts have been suspended, listeners can still access BBC programs in Pashto, Dari and English via shortwave and mediumwave radio, satellite and digital platforms.
The BBC began broadcasting in Pashto for audiences in Afghanistan in 1981.
Media restrictions increase
The decision comes amid a series of restrictions imposed on the media since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, following the collapse of Afghanistan’s previous government.
Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index. The organization says that since August 2021, the authorities have issued more than 20 national directives and several provincial orders affecting journalism.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center said there were at least 207 violations of journalists’ rights and media rights between March 18, 2025, and March 17, 2026.
It remains unclear when BBC FM broadcasts will resume.
