Taliban government suspends BBC radio broadcasts in Afghanistan

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has suspended BBC radio broadcasts nationwide. Khubaib Ghufran, a spokesperson for the Information and Culture Ministry, stated the suspension is due to ‘repeated violations,’ though specific details regarding the breaches were not provided.

The BBC confirmed the suspension of its FM broadcasts and noted it is currently in discussions with local authorities to resolve the matter. The broadcaster emphasized that millions of people in Afghanistan rely on its services for accurate news, noting that its radio audience reaches approximately 5.4 million people, or more than 20% of the country’s population.

While FM radio is suspended, the BBC intends to continue providing news in Pashto, Dari, and English via its website, satellite services, and other platforms. The move follows increased scrutiny of media under Taliban rule, which has already restricted music and the visibility of women in broadcasting.