Radio Afghanistan
Department of State Washington File: Text: Lawmaker Praises Bill to Create Radio Free Afghanistan
Setting up Radio Free Afghanistan will give us a valuable tool to fight the vicious propaganda that Osama bin Laden and his supporters continue to spew forth. But Radio Free Afghanistan cannot succeed in isolation. Its broadcasts must be supplemented by stepped up and improved broadcasts to Afghanistan's neighbors--Pakistan and the Eurasian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. As my colleagues are aware, the Taliban are actively supporting an Islamic extremist insurgency in the Fergana Valley, where the borders of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan converge. It is conceivable that the Taliban's ultimate objective is Kazakhstan, the largest country in the region, rich in oil and minerals. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Senate Bill Would Establish Radio Free Afghanistan
This Act may be cited as the `Radio Free Afghanistan Act'. ... (2) SUPERSEDES EXISTING LIMITATION ON TOTAL ANNUAL GRANT AMOUNTS- Grants made to RFE/RL, Incorporated, during the fiscal year 2002 for support of Radio Free Afghanistan may be made without regard to section 308(c) of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6207(c)). ... S. 1779 would provide $8 million for operations in fiscal year 2002, which began October 1, 2001, and $9 million for capital improvements for a Radio Free Afghanistan in the same time period. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Excerpt: House Passes Senate Version of Radio Free Afghanistan Act
We cannot win the information war and, hence, the war against terrorism, if we shortchange our public diplomacy. I was dismayed, Mr. Speaker, to see the cuts in funding for international broadcasting in the administration's budget. Not only are there insufficient funds to meet the world-wide programming needs for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, Voice of America, and Radio Free Asia; but the administration's budget does not request a single penny for Radio Free Afghanistan. ... [Read More]
Afghanistan
November 15, 2004 This Travel Warning provides updated information on the security situation in Afghanistan and on the upcoming Afghan presidential inauguration events. The security threat to all American citizens in Afghanistan remains critical. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Afghanistan issued July 30, 2004. The Department of State strongly warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan. There is an ongoing threat to kidnap and assassinate U.S. citizens a ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Rep. Royce Introduces Bill to Create "Radio Free Afghanistan"
Royce, a senior member of the House International Relations Committee, said the legislation would create Radio Free Afghanistan under the existing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty services. ... The proposed legislation would allow Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to perform surrogate broadcasts into Afghanistan, and would authorize $8 million for fiscal year 2002, which began October 1, and $6 million for fiscal year 2003. ... "Horrible things are being said right now that are not being countered. There is a lot of anti-Semitic, anti-American, anti-Western hate radio being broadcast by the Taliban and Osama bin Laden's organization. Radio Free Afghanistan is needed to broadcast the American ideals of democracy, liberty, and freedom to listeners in the region," Royce said. ... [Read More]
Afghanistan
While some independent journalists and writers published magazines and newsletters, according to Reporters Without Borders, circulation largely was confined to Kabul and many were self-censored. In practice, many persons listened to the dozen international stations that broadcast in Dari or Pashto. The BBC, Voice of America, Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Afghanistan were available throughout the country. In the countryside, local radio and television stations were under the control of the local authorities. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Radio Free Afghanistan Doubles its Broadcasts
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has doubled the number of broadcast hours for Radio Free Afghanistan. ... Radio Free Afghanistan's programming in Dari can now be heard from 1300-1400 UTC (8:00AM-9:00AM EST), with repeats at 1800-1830 UTC (1:00PM-1:30PM EST), 1930-2000 UTC (2:30PM-3:00PM EST) and 0400-0500 UTC (11:00PM-midnight EST), while broadcasts in the Pashtu language will air from 1200-1300 UTC (7:00AM-8:00AM EST) with repeats at 1700-1800 UTC (noon-1:00PM EST) and 0300-0400 UTC (10:00PM-11:00PM EST). The programs are broadcast to Afghanistan via shortwave and on a joint RFE/RL-Voice of America mediumwave broadcast stream administered by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the U.S. agency that oversees American international broadcasting. Live and on-demand RealAudio of the Dari and Pashto broadcasts to Afghanistan is available on RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan website, located at www.rferl.org/bd/af/. ... [Read More]
Afghanistan
While some independent journalists and writers published magazines and newsletters, according to Reporters Without Borders, circulation largely was confined to Kabul, and many publications were self-censored. In practice, many persons listened to the dozen international stations that broadcast in Dari or Pashto. The BBC, Voice of America, Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Afghanistan were available throughout the country. In the countryside, some radio and television stations were under the control of local authorities. There were approximately 300 publications, 40 radio stations, and several television stations in the country. Mazar-e-Sharif alone had an estimated 50 publications. On September 12, the first independent radio station established entirely by private sector funds was inaugurated in Ghazni Province. ... [Read More]
Interview With Neda Farhat of Radio Liberty and Radio Afghanistan
Interview With Neda Farhat of Radio Liberty and Radio Afghanistan ... [Read More]
Afghanistan
June 09, 2005 This Travel Warning provides updated information on the security situation in Afghanistan. The security threat to all American citizens in Afghanistan remains critical. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Afghanistan issued November 11, 2004. The Department of State strongly warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan. There is an ongoing threat to kidnap and assassinate U.S. citizens and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) wor ... [Read More]
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