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86 radio stations stopped operations in Afghanistan ever since Taliban came to power

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 14 Feb 2022, 06:24 am Print

86 radio stations stopped operations in Afghanistan ever since Taliban came to power Afghanistan Radio Station

File image of an Afghanistan radio station, by US Air Force via Wikimedia Creative Commons

Kabul: Media watchdog organizations said as many as 86 radio stations in Afghanistan have shut down in the past six months ever since the Taliban came to power in the country in 2021.

“We have a lot of memories from the radio. There was a time when  restrictions were imposed on listening to the radio. When we were listening to the radio, we would task one individual to keep a lookout;  we were listening to it in secret,”  Mangal, a resident of Wardak, told Tolo News. 

“It was a longtime ago. I was a toddler. A radio device was brought into our village. When I was listening to the broadcast, I was thinking there are people inside the radio device,” Abdul Salim, a resident of Wardak,told the news portal.

One of the radio stations which stopped their operation in the country is Radio Jahan.

“Radio Jahan has halted broadcasting for more than 6 months due to severe economic challenges,” Mosawar Rasikh, head of Radio Jahan, told Tolo News.

“Around 70 percent of radio stations are closed in the country. The reasons are economic challenges and broadcasting programs--in the current situation. On the other hand, the government insists on collecting taxes from radio stations,” said Shafiullah Azizi, head of the Zamzama radio stations.     

Afghanistan witnessed a political change last year when the Taliban captured Kabul on Aug 15.