Clandestine Radio Watch 091 Extra
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CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH Afghanistan Special
December 20, 2001
Clandestine Radio Watch (CRW) is a biweekly summary which centrali-
zes the latest news and developments affecting the study of clan-
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Next issue - CRW 092 : December 31, 2001
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------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx----------------
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------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx--------------------
Schedules - AFGHANISTAN
Radio Voice of Afghanistan
------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx-------------------------
Logs - AFGHANISTAN
Information Radio
8700U, "Commando Solo," pretty good at 0037 Dec 8 with usual talk
and mx, but heavy RTTY QRM.
(J.Berg-PPDX/ME-USA Dec 8, 2001 in DXplorer-ML)
8700 commando solo. I finally picked this one up around 3.30 UTC
with a cheerful afgani tune..followed by what sounded like a message
in Dari, with the mention of Taleban , Alqa'da and Kabul. The
strange thing was hearing a message in ARABIC!! I confirm hearing a
message in arabic.sounds like it's beamed to the Afgan Arabs as we
call them the arabs who fought with Taleban the message was mainly
talking about Osama Ben Laden and that he's ERHABI..that terrorist
in eng. I heard this message once. The signal faded around 4.30 UTC
(T.Zeidan-EGY Dec 10, 2001 via W.Büschel-D in DXplorer-ML)
8700: Now I got a translation of the Arabic message broadcast on
[Commando SOLO] 8700 kHz (wherever it's coming from). The first
message I heard was around 0450 UT and it went like this:
To all AL QA'ADA members ... KANDAHAR is not ruled by MULLA OMAR any
more. He gave the leadership to MULLA NAGIBULLAH. So why are you
still fighting?? Just remember that USAMA BEN LADEN is a terrorist
and he's not going to help you.
TZ: Well, we all know KANDAHAR was taken over by the Northern
Alliance a longtime ago ? - so why would they broadcast such a
message? One more thing ... the Arabic accent of the OM was sort of
an EGYPTIAN Arabic ... I'm sure I heard his voice somewhere but may
be the Arabic section of VOA ... not sure!
The second message was on around 0459 UT and it was like this:
ATTENTION to all ALQA'ADA members ... Usama Ben Laden is just a
snake hiding in his cave and he'll sneak out soon under cover of the
night ... he'll not help you. And why don't you ask yourself???
Have you seen Ben Laden lately???
Did he contact any of your leaders???
Think twice because at the end you'll lose everything.
This message was read by the same OM with the same message.
(T.Zeidan-EWY, BC-DX Dec 12, 2001 via DXLD 1-199)
8700U kHz, Radio Informacion,??, 0209-0225, 13 Diciembre 2001,
px en pashto o dari, con varias menciones a Afganistan, Taleban,
y mx afgana cada 5 o 7 minutos. SINPO: 33343.
(G.I.Barrera-ARG Dec 13, 2001 in ConDig 137)
8700U, Radio Comando Solo, 0332 - 0345, Dec 16, Lang ???, Musical
program, several comments about Afghanistan, SIO 343,
(N.Eramo-ARG Dec 16, 2001 in DXplorer-ML)
Radio Voice of Afghanistan
I could receive the Voice of Afghanistan and here is the details:
Date:25/11/2001, Time:1330 UTC , Freq:9950 kHz, SINPO:55444
Details: -ID:"Afghanistan radio". -Message
-Holy Koran:in arabic:"Al Nabaa" -The news. -A song
This will repeat many times.
(A.Chaabane-TUN Nov 25, 2001 in HCDX)
9950.00 V of Afghanistan, *1329 IS, tones, into ID and Afghani
music, on 12/8, used woman announcer to give news that Taleban had
fallen and turned over Khandahar. How appropriate that a woman do
the announcing! Moderate signal
(D.Henderson-Me DXPedition-USA Dec 8, 2001 in DXplorer-ML)
I was listening to 9950 around 1342-1348 UT Dec 10, and did not
notice any change of language; has the quarter-hour pattern changed?
(G.Hauser-OK-USA Dec 10, 2001 in DXLD 1-194)
[reg. G.Hausers comments above :] The first half-hour is in Pushto
and the remaining half-hour is in Dari, according to my friend Na-
sim. He's a very interesting fellow. We talked about events in Af-
ghanistan. His profession is a journalist; he worked in Kabul, prior
to 1992. He left with his wife and children after the events there.
Remember when the Soviets were in. He did translation for the news-
paper and the government service, as well for Afghan Television and
Radio. His family is still back there in Mazar-I-Sharif. 73's
(E.Kusalik-AL-CAN Dec 11, 2001 in DXLD 1-195)
Tnx, Ed. So this means, as I suspected, that at some recent point
RVOA doubled its output of original programming from a quarter-hour
in each language, repeated, to a semi-hour in each language, not
repeated
(G.Hauser-USA Dec 11, 2001 in DXLD 1-195)
9950, Radio Voice of Afghanistan, Samara relay is heard with very
good signals at 1330 Dec 13 here in north Europe - political talks,
news and local folkmusic programs
(T.Ekblom-FIN Dec 13, 2001 in DXLD 1-196)
------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------
Qsl's - AFGHANISTAN
QSL from Radio Voice of Afghanistan
9950 Afghanistan Broadcasting Corporation short verification for a
real audio file sent to their email address. v/s Ms. Alex Longson,
who adds that Penny Munro is no longer with them.
(H.Johnson Dec 12, 2001 in CDX 377)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------
Misc - AFGHANISTAN
--- Radio Afghanistan on MW and FM
My brother, who is currently in Kabul with the BBC World Service,
has visited Radio Afghanistan and managed to confirm that they are
now using two transmitters: 1. AM 1530 kHz 2. FM 96 MHz. They are on
air between 6-8 am and 4-9 pm local time (i.e. 0130-0330 and
1130-1630 UT C). The main news is at 1430-1500 in Pashto and
1500-1530 UT in Dari. Transmitter power is not known, but reception
is reportedly possible within about 80 km of Kabul
(R.Kenny in Kabul via D.Kenny-BDXC-UK Dec 13, 2001 via DXLD 1-196)
--- CNN about Radio Afghanistan
Here is the CNN broadcast piece on the Radio Afghanistan news anchor
that happens to also be a woman.
http://www.cnn.com/video/world/2001/12/12/ps.afg.anchorwoman.cnn.med.html
(P.Costello-NJ-USA Dec 12, 2001 in DXLD 1-196)
--- Radio Free Afghanistan
Biden and Helms Seek Senate Support for Radio Free Afghanistan
December 6, 2001
Additional broadcast services to Central Asia are needed to help
extend U.S. efforts to restore stability to Afghanistan, Senator
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. said today as he introduced legislation to
launch a new Radio Free Afghanistan. Biden, Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations, co-sponsored the bill with the
Committee's ranking member, Senator Jesse Helms.
"Afghanistan's ability to establish a stable and peaceful state will
depend in part on the free flow of information about the country and
the world to its people," Biden said. "Radio Free Afghanistan would
bring that sort of news to Afghans in
their own languages, produced by people familiar with the region but
shaped by the traditions of journalism as it is practiced in United
States – based on the values of accuracy and objectivity."
The services envisioned in the legislation would start with four
hours each in Afghanistan's two major languages, Dari and Pashto.
They would receive $17 million for fiscal year 2002, with subsequent
funds to come from future budget cycles.
Start-up costs for the services would include construction of a new
transmitter in Kuwait that could have other uses for U.S.
broadcasting.
The services are to be run by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which
conducted broadcasts to Afghanistan from the mid-1980s to 1993.
The proposal is similar in many respects to legislation passed by
the House of Representatives in November in support
of such radio services.
Senator Biden intends to bring the bill before the Foreign
Relations Committee next week.
( http://foreign.senate.gov/press/01/011206.html via R.Hofwiler-POL
for CRW)
Senate Committee Approves Radio Free Afghanistan, 13 December 2001
The proposed Radio Free Afghanistan has moved a step closer to
reality following the approval of the relevant bill by the US Senate
Foreign Relations Committee on 12 December. The bill has already
been approved overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives
(405-2), and now goes to the full Senate for a vote. Radio Free
Afghanistan will be based at the headquarters of Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in Prague, and RFE/RL has indicated
that it could be ready to start transmissions within a few months of
getting the go-ahead. See our earlier Story Is Two better than one?
(Radio Netherlands Media Network Dec 13, 2001 via DXLD 1-196)
USA: Senate Foreign Relations Committee approves
Radio Free Afghanistan bill
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 12 December approved a
bill that will establish and fund a Radio Free Afghanistan. The bill
will allow Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which is also funded by
the US Congress, to broadcast 12 hours of programming a day to
Afghanistan in local languages.
The US House of Representatives voted 405-2 in favour of the
legislation on 7 November. The bill now heads to the Senate floor
for a vote.
Representative Ed Royce (Republican, California), who framed the
bill and pushed it through the House, said: "Radio Free Afghanistan
has now been authorized and funded by the House and now that the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee has passed the bill it's well on
its way to final passage."
Royce's web site added: "I applaud Chairman Biden and Senator Helms
for their commitment to Radio Free Afghanistan. Once Radio Free
Afghanistan is signed into law, limited broadcasts could begin
almost immediately."
Royce said that Radio Free Afghanistan is vital to the rebuilding of
Afghanistan. "At congressional hearings five years ago, I warned
that terrorist-harbouring Afghanistan was an emerging national
security threat.
War-wracked Afghanistan will continue to be a threat to us unless it
establishes a stable government with the wherewithal to dislodge al-
Qa'idah and other terrorists. Let's make that formidable mission
more attainable by again giving Afghans access to a Radio Free
Afghanistan."
Royce pointed to the effectiveness of Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty during the Cold War. "The concept behind Radio Free
Afghanistan is to do what was done with Radio Free Europe in Poland
and Czechoslovakia.
When we talk with leaders of Poland or the Czech Republic, they say
that the hearts and minds of these people of those countries were
turned by the opportunity to listen daily to a radio broadcast which
explained what was actually happening inside their society."
Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 13 Dec 01 (via DXLD
1-196)
--- US may provide radio broadcasts in Afghanistan
U.S. may provide radio broadcasts in Afghanistan
from Indo-Asian News Service
Washington, Dec 12 (IANS) A bill authorising the establishment of a
"Radio Free Afghanistan" to provide news broadcasts in Dari and
Pashto languages for people of the country was submitted in the U.S.
Senate.
The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the
ranking minority member of the committee submitted the bill.
Senator Joseph Biden, Democrat, and Senator Jesse Helms, Republican,
introduced S. 1779 to the Senate last week. The bill was referred to
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
S. 1779 would provide $8 million for operations in fiscal year 2002,
which began October 1, 2001, and $9 million for capital improvements
for "Radio Free Afghanistan" in the same time period.
(Indo-Asian News Svc via F.Noronha-IND Dec 12, 2001 in DX-India-ML)
--- When Bombs Are Not Enough
The Army's Psyop Warriors Deploy an Arsenal of Paper
By Richard Leiby, Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 10, 2001; Page C01
FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- A famously hard-bitten Green Beret, Col. Mike
Kirby, glowers down on a conference table full of Army commanders
here as they plot their next attack on the Taliban and al Qaeda.
Kirby growls a key message: "Better go PSYWAR on that."
For the leaders of the 4th Psychological Operations Group --
considered among the Army's most intellectual warriors -- Kirby is a
hero. Never mind that he's a Hollywood construct: a character played
by John Wayne in the 1968 agitprop classic "The Green Berets." An
enlarged photo of the Duke in uniform and a snippet of his dialogue
hangs on the wood-paneled wall in tribute to one of the military's
rarely glamorized special operations units.
The weaponry of the psyop soldier includes radio transmitters,
loudspeakers and music, from classical to heavy metal. These elite
airborne troops don't drop bombs on the enemy -- they drop leaflets
and crude cartoons urging surrender. They parachute in, offering
bribes, hoping to rat out evildoers like Osama bin Laden. They set
up battlefield copy centers to crank out pro-American handbills.
"No one else does what we do," says Col. James A. Treadwell, who
commands the 4th Psyop Group, a 1,200-member unit whose slogans
include "Win the Mind -- Win the Day" and "Verbum Vincet" ("The Word
Conquers"). Schooled in marketing and advertising techniques, they
are a brainy subset of the "snake eaters," as the brawny commandos
based here in the scrub pine and strip-club wilds of Fayetteville
are known.
Wearing a maroon beret that designates him as a qualified paratroo-
per, Lt. Col. Kenneth A. Turner sounds like a typical "psyop-er" --
they don't go in for menacing nicknames -- as he patiently explains
"the distinction between dissemination and communication." When he
talks about a target, he means an audience.
Turner, 42, commands a dissemination battalion. He speaks French and
holds master's degrees in international relations and military arts
and sciences. Like others here, he considers psychological opera-
tions an art with a practical application. If you can demoralize the
enemy and promote defections, the fighting ends sooner -- thereby
minimizing casualties.
"Stop fighting for the Taliban and live," urges a leaflet designed
here. "Drive out the foreign terrorists," says another.
"That's what we're all about: influencing people to take certain
behavioral actions that accomplish our national goals," says Turner.
During the Persian Gulf War, many Iraqi soldiers surrendered
clutching U.S.-dropped leaflets that offered safe passage. "There
were special [Iraqi] teams organized to shoot anyone that was found
to be in possession of our leaflets," Treadwell says. But he and
other commanders of the Afghan psyop war are hesitant to make claims
about the effectiveness of their propaganda in promoting surrenders,
saying they haven't yet been able to make assessments.
The leafleting over Kandahar, one of the last Taliban strongholds to
yield to U.S.-backed forces, included a broadside depicting Mullah
Mohammed Omar as a "kuchi," a dog of nomads, chained at the heel of
bin Laden. "Who really runs the Taliban?" it asks. Apparently it hit
a nerve.
"If the Taliban are complaining because we dropped this in Kandahar,
which they have been, we're kind of happy -- because they're upset
about it," says David C. Champagne, a PhD research analyst with the
Army psyop group. "If you have a reaction to it, it means you've
been affected one way or another."
In Afghanistan, with a population of 26 million, some 18 million
leaflets have been distributed -- often via fiberglass "leaflet
bombs" that explode in midair. "We have leaflets that are dropping
like snowflakes in December in Chicago," Secretary of Defense Donald
H. Rumsfeld noted earlier in the campaign.
Many messages produced here are benign, trying to reinforce the
point that Americans are nice people -- anti-terrorist, not
anti-Muslim. "To the honorable people of Afghanistan, may you have a
Happy Eid," Champagne roughly translates from the Pashto as presses
roll behind him. "May your fasting -- your sacrifice, be acceptable
to God."
This is essentially a greeting card to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of
Ramadan. It depicts a date palm and a bowl of dates -- a traditional
food for celebrating the end of the month-long fasting period.
"Obviously the target audience is the civilian population of
Afghanistan, showing our friendship," explains Maj. Ric Rohm,
another battalion commander. "All of our products fit into a plan."
At the start of a campaign, the psyop-ers decide which media will be
most useful in getting across their message, "very similar to how a
marketing firm would try to do their business," says Rohm. In
Afghanistan, that ruled out television -- the Taliban had banned it.
But many Afghans owned radios, so the psyop-ers began drafting
scripts and musical programming for the "Commando Solo" aircraft
circling the region, broadcasting 10 hours a day. The leaflets
relied on simple messages and graphics because of the population's
low literacy rate, but Champagne, who served in the Peace Corps in
Afghanistan decades ago, quickly points out, that doesn't mean
"they're not intelligent."
Messages must be approved by the brass at Central Command and
comport with the overarching info-war strategy laid out by the White
House. Critiques and wrongheaded suggestions abound. One official
objected to a leaflet showing Afghanistan as a chessboard with bin
Laden orchestrating Taliban pawns -- until the experts here
explained that chess is immensely popular in the region and the
image would instantly connect.
Potential linguistic and cultural gaffes lurk in every operation. In
Somalia in 1992, prior to a U.N. humanitarian effort, a hastily
printed psyop leaflet contained a spelling error. Instead of
announcing help from the "United Nations," it came out "Slave
Nations."
At Fort Bragg, translations are scrupulously checked -- "So we don't
end up having an advertisement for a car that says 'Won't Go,' "
says Rohm, referring to a classic marketing screw-up involving the
Chevy Nova. (In Spanish, no va translates as "won't go.")
In Afghanistan, the psyop-ers deliberately avoided using the word
"surrender" because they knew it would not play well with the
Taliban. They substituted appeals along the lines of "Return to your
homes and villages." Military mind-warriors had faced that problem
before.
"That's an old issue going back to the Second World War and leaflets
that were directed at the Japanese," explains Robert D. Jenks,
another doctorate-holding civilian analyst at Fort Bragg. "They
discovered that [surrender] was offensive to Japanese. So they
retooled and phrased it differently. What they said was: 'Cease
resistance.' "
Over the years Army psychological operations have spread to the
civilian arena. Because the unit supports peacetime anti-drug and
de- mining efforts around the globe, the old term "psywar" –
accurate when John Wayne made his Vietnam War movie -- is out of
favor now. But the swaggering spirit seems to live on among the guys
who bring strong editing and graphic skills to combat, who can write
radio scripts and leaflet slogans with a certain punch.
In October, when Army Rangers parachuted behind enemy lines outside
Kandahar, four members of Fort Bragg's psyop group jumped with them.
They left behind their calling cards for the enemy -- leaflets, of
course. "We wanted them to know that we were on the ground," says
Lt. Col. Glenn Ayers.
One bore an image of firefighters raising the American flag. It said
simply, "Freedom Endures."
(Washington Post via M.Cooper-USA in DXLD 1-195)
--- Radio Voice of Afghanistan
--- BBCM about Radio Voice of Afghanistan
--- RNMN about about Radio Voice of Afghanistan
--- New Home, New Life
From The Times [London -CRW]: FRIDAY DECEMBER 14 2001
BY RAYMOND SNODDY
The former prisoner of the Taleban wanted to get a simple message
back to the producers and actors responsible for the Afghan radio
soap New Home, New Life. "My life is their gift," the man said. When
asked what this meant, he told how he had been close to death in
jail, suffering from diarrhoea and extreme dehydration. His guard
was listening to Naway Kor, Naway Jwand (New Home, New Life) when
Fatima, a character from one of the three fictional Afghan villages
in the programme, explained that a weak saline solution was the cure
for his ailment.
"I had salt, water and wheat flour. I mixed them up and now, look, I
am out of the Taleban jail and alive," the man explained.
New Home, New Life has been broadcast three times a week in Pashto
and Persian since 1994, and is listened to by 35 million Afghans in
Afghanistan and surrounding countries. Its influence, and its
determination to deliver useful messages in fictional form, were
noticeable from its inception.
The first episode featured a character who took a short cut between
two villages and was blown up by a landmine. The story told of his
despair and suicidal feelings, and how he recovered with the help of
an artificial limb.
BBC Education Projects, which makes the soap and is based in
Peshawar, across the border in Pakistan, received a letter from an
Afghan who had just lost a leg in a landmine explosion. He decided
that it was "his story" and followed the fictional character to
recovery.
This week the programme has been dealing with even more contemporary
horrors - what happens when cluster bombs fall in the village.
"The programme has been delivering the kind of lifeline messages
that have been vital for Afghan audiences," says Shirazuddin
Siddiqi, the editor of the education projects, which since July have
also included radio programmes for young children.
More than 200 people are involved in the radio effort, including 15
writers and 90 actors and actresses.
Advised by aid, health and development agencies, the soap has dealt
with everything from family decisions on whether to stay at home or
leave, to advice on setting up secret home schools when the
education of girls was banned. The programme told the story of how
such a school was established by women teachers sacked by the
Taleban regime, and was paid for in kind by local farmers and
villagers.
"Thousands were set up," says Siddiqi. "Home school projects started
up all over the country as a result of the model we offered."
Siddiqi was in Bonn recently, at a meeting parallel to the main
political negotiations which concentrated on civil society and the
redevelopment of Afghanistan, looking at everything from agriculture
and the environment to health and the role of women in the future of
the country.
"In each one of those issues there was a strong recognition that the
media could play a role," Siddiqi says.
With no national newspaper worthy of the name and television in a
rudimentary state after years of being banned, it is radio that will
have most to offer, at least at the outset.
David Morton, head of the Eurasia region of the BBC World Service,
points out that an FM transmitter for a medium-sized town in
Afghanistan can be provided for about £5,000. He is trying to raise
money from international aid and development organisations to help
to build, with international partners, a new broadcasting
infrastructure for Afghanistan and to offer lots more programming,
particularly distance learning.
"It has been quite clear in all the conferences of the past few
weeks that all the major players see an important role for the BBC
in the reconstruction process," says Morton.
Once the danger has subsided, teams could even work from Kabul. The
BBC is keen to work with commercial partners and other national
broadcasters, and believes it can offer technical expertise and
training as well as programming experience. Distance learning
projects that work without locally distributed educational materials
would be particularly useful at the moment.
"If you had £5 million to £10 million available you would be well on
the way to a broadcasting infrastructure for Afghanistan," says
Morton
(via M.Terry-BDXC-G Dec 15, 2001 via DXLD 1-197)
--- BBCM about Afghanistan
Afghanistan - Media round-up Sunday 9 December 2001 [excerpts]
US PsyOps broadcasts continue
US PsyOps Information Radio continues to be observed by BBC Monito-
ring broadcasting in Pashto and Dari to Afghanistan. On 8 December,
the broadcasts were heard from 0030-0535 gmt and 1230-1730 gmt. On 9
December, the broadcast from 0030-0535 gmt was observe; between
1400-1500 gmt the station was not observed broadcasting.
Information Radio is heard on 8700 kHz upper sideband mode and at
times on the former Kandahar mediumwave frequency of 864 kHz. A
third announced channel of 1107 kHz (former Kabul frequency) has not
yet been observed by BBC Monitoring. The 864, 980 (reportedly a
relay of Voice of America) and 1107 kHz channels are believed to be
broadcast from US PsyOps "Commando Solo" EC-130 aircraft.
Radio Voice of Afghanistan broadcasts
Radio Voice of Afghanistan, which is based in London, continues to
be observed on its scheduled frequency of 9950 kHz from 1330-1430
gmt daily....
The 8 December broadcast included the following reports:
- Unknown whereabouts of Taleban leader Mola Mohammad Omar
- Fight continuing for control of Kandahar
- Fighting at Tora Bora, a suspected Al-Qa'idah hideout
- UK, Germany could lead multinational force in Kabul
- Interior Minister Designate Yunos Qanuni says the differences over
the Bonn decision on the interim council can be resolved
- Mazar-e Sharif commander Gen Abdorrashid Dostum, Herat commander
Esmail Khan and Pir Gailani oppose the Bonn decision on the interim
council;
- Russian Defence Minister Ivanov holds talks with Foreign Minister
Designate Dr Abdollah Abdollah in Tajikistan - according to Abdol-
lah, Russia is prepared to render every kind of assistance;
- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf speaks to Hamed Karzai by
phone - new Pakistani envoy could be appointed soon to Kabul;
according to another report Karzai might be visiting Pakistan in the
near future for talks with Musharraf.
- UK press review
- "Women and society" [Dari: Zan wa zhamia] - brief biographies of
the two women members of the Interim Council: Deputy Prime Minister
Designate Sima Samar from Ghazni, member of Hezb-e Wahdat and
Hazara; Gen Suhaila Sediqi - surgeon, Pashtun, from Kandahar, health
minister designate.
- News on women's affairs - meeting of Afghan women in Belgium -
Afghan women from various countries attended the meeting; biography
of an Afghan woman in New York where she works as a hairdresser -
Zahera.
Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring
Telephone +44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk
Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 9 Dec 01 (via DXLD 1-194)
Afghanistan - Media round-up Tuesday 11 December 2001
- US PsyOps radio: broadcast in Arabic heard
- US Senators seek support for Radio Free Afghanistan
- Kabul radio times and frequencies confirmed
Kabul TV/Radio
Radio Afghanistan in the capital Kabul broadcasts from 0130-0330 gmt
and 1130-1630 gmt on 1530 kHz mediumwave and 96 MHz FM. The news in
Pashto is at 1430 gmt, and in Dari at 1500 gmt.
Kabul TV broadcasts via a 10-Watt transmitter, which is very low
power in terms of TV broadcasting, so range would be limited,
probably to central Kabul. The station is on the air for three hours
a day.
Balkh Radio
Balkh Radio, which is based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif,
Balkh Province, continues to be heard. On Tuesday 11 December, the
0230-0430 gmt (0700-0900 local time) morning broadcast was observed
by BBC Monitoring; the evening broadcast was also observed from 1130
gmt.
Broadcasts are on the usual frequency of 1584 kHz.
Konduz radio reportedly on the air, pro-Northern Alliance
According to a report on the International Herald Tribune (IHT) web
site on 30 November, the former pro-Taleban radio station in Konduz
has now switched sides and is broadcasting in support of the
Northern Alliance.
The web site carried a report from a New York Times Service
correspondent in Konduz who said the station had resumed test
broadcasts on 28 November.
The IHT report said the Konduz radio station was now broadcasting
for one hour a day from 5-6 p.m. local time (1230-1330 gmt) on 1520
kHz mediumwave (although BBC Monitoring believes the frequency is
more likely to be 1521 kHz).
The reported broadcasts from Konduz radio have not yet been observed
by BBC Monitoring.
US PsyOps radio: broadcast in Arabic heard
US PsyOps Information Radio continues to be observed by BBC
Monitoring broadcasting in Pashto and Dari to Afghanistan. On
Tuesday 11 December, the broadcasts were heard from 0030-0530 gmt
and again from 1230 gmt.
Information Radio is heard on 8700 kHz upper sideband mode and at
times on the former Kandahar mediumwave frequency of 864 kHz. A
third announced channel of 1107 kHz (former Kabul frequency) has not
yet been observed by BBC Monitoring. The 864, 980 (reportedly a
relay of Voice of America) and 1107 kHz channels are believed to be
broadcast from US PsyOps "Commando Solo" EC-130 aircraft.
The 9 December broadcast included a statement in Dari warning people
in Kandahar not to drive at night. "For the attention of the noble
people of Kandahar. Kandahar has become a dangerous place. Conside-
rable military movements and activities are taking place in Kanda-
har. Avoid driving at night. If you are driving on roads or streets
at night, you might be mistaken for the enemy and be attacked. We
are concerned about the security and safety of innocent Afghans. We
appeal to you not to drive at night-time."
US broadcast in Arabic on Bin-Ladin bounty
On Monday 10 December Information Radio carried the following
announcement in Arabic:
"Attention, O Afghan people: A reward of the value of 25m dollars
will be given in exchange of information leading to capturing Usamah
Bin-Ladin or Ayman Al-Zawahiri. These Al-Qa'idah terrorists are
responsible for killing thousands of innocent people around the
world.
"Every day, the proud Afghan people are getting closer and closer to
liberating themselves from the tyranny of foreign terrorists. We ask
for your help to get rid of these foreign terrorists. Every day,
more foreign terrorists are being defeated in battles. We are asking
for your assistance because these cowards and murderers are still
hiding. The Afghan forces' alliance authority, which is fighting to
liberate Afghanistan, will continue searching for these cowards.
With your help, we will be able to bring the Al-Qa'idah terrorists
to justice.
"There is also another reward in exchange of documents and more
information leading to unveiling Al-Qa'idah agents. We hope you will
continue listening to Information Radio to know the latest develop-
ments. Information Radio will broadcast contacts you can get in
touch with to give any information on the whereabouts of these
terrorists. This assistance may lead to a reward. We hope you will
continue listening to Information Radio to have information on the
latest developments."
US Senators seek support for Radio Free Afghanistan
The following press release appears on the US Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations web site
http://foreign.senate.gov/press/01/011206.html
6 December 2001: Additional broadcast services to Central Asia are
needed to help extend US efforts to restore stability to
Afghanistan, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr said today as he introduced
legislation to launch a new Radio Free Afghanistan.
Biden, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, co-
sponsored the bill with the committee's ranking member, Senator
Jesse Helms.
"Afghanistan's ability to establish a stable and peaceful state will
depend in part on the free flow of information about the country and
the world to its people," Biden said. "Radio Free Afghanistan would
bring that sort of news to Afghans in their own languages, produced
by people familiar with the region but shaped by the traditions of
journalism as it is practised in United States - based on the values
of accuracy and objectivity."
The services envisioned in the legislation would start with four
hours each in Afghanistan's two major languages, Dari and Pashto.
They would receive 17 megadollars for fiscal year 2002, with subse-
quent funds to come from future budget cycles. Start-up costs for
the services would include construction of a new transmitter in
Kuwait that could have other uses for US broadcasting.
The services are to be run by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which
conducted broadcasts to Afghanistan from the mid-1980s to 1993.
The proposal is similar in many respects to legislation passed by
the House of Representatives in November in support of such radio
services. Senator Biden intends to bring the bill before the Foreign
Relations Committee next week.
Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring
Telephone +44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk
Source: BBC Monitoring research 11 Dec 01 (via DXLD 1-195)
Afghanistan: Media round-up Wednesday 12 December 2001
Media groups issue action plan for media
Nine press freedom watchdogs and journalists' organizations have
issued a joint statement setting out a strategic action plan for the
media in post-war Afghanistan. They called on the international
community to ensure that commitments to respect freedom of
expression and to promote an environment in which a strong,
independent and pluralistic media sector can flourish should form
part of all political and development aid negotiations. They
recommended the establishment of an independent authority to issue
broadcasting licences. They added that the state broadcaster should
be a public service broadcaster which is protected against
interference from the government and has its editorial independence
guaranteed. Following is text of the statement, issued by the
London-based Article 19 organization on behalf of itself and eight
other organizations; dated 11 December 2001; subheadings as
published:
A crucial prerequisite for peace and stability, and democracy, in
Afghanistan is the creation of an inclusive media environment based
on respect for the international guarantee of freedom of expression.
The structure of indigenous media will be a significant factor in
shaping the social and political future of the country.
POLICY PRINCIPLES FOR MEDIA IN POST-WAR AFGHANISTAN
The international community should ensure that the following
concerns are raised in all political and development aid
negotiations.
Commitment to respect freedom of expression
The Afghan authorities should make a commitment to respect and
promote freedom of expression as a human right, including by:
- undertaking, as soon as possible, a review of all laws restricting
freedom of expression, including general content restrictions,
particularly of a criminal nature, with a view to bringing them into
line with international standards;
- promoting an environment in which a strong, independent and
pluralistic media sector can flourish;
- removing obstacles to free access to information, including by
recognizing the right of journalists to protect the confidentiality
of their sources of information;
- removing any obstacles to the right of journalists to freely
organize themselves into independent associations; and
- ensuring the safety and security of journalists and media staff.
Regulatory authority
The Afghan authorities should undertake the following as soon as
possible and with maximum participation of a range of local
stakeholders:
- Establish an Independent Broadcasting Authority to serve as the
authority for issuing broadcasting licences, enforcing compliance
with licences and administering norms. The Authority must be
protected against political and commercial interference through the
appointment of an independent governing body with governing rules
that set out clearly a fair licensing process.
- Develop a plan for the distribution of transmission licences that
assures an appropriate mix of public service and private
broadcasting, including local broadcasters.
- Provide for the development, by the Authority in close
consultation with broadcasters and civil society, of a
self-regulatory code for the electronic media, which promotes
professionalism and ensures that broadcasters refrain from inciting
violence or hatred.
1. The State Broadcaster
Whatever government comes to power in Afghanistan, it is likely to
establish its own broadcasting outlet. A public broadcaster of this
sort has the potential to be an important institution of national
unity but it could also simply serve as a mouthpiece of government.
This broadcaster should be a public service broadcaster which is
protected against interference from the government, including by
having its editorial independence guaranteed, by being overseen by
an independent governing body, by receiving sustained, politically
independent financial support, and by receiving intensive management
and journalistic training.
2. The Print Media
No licensing system should be imposed on the print media, although
these media, like everyone else, may be subject to rules of general
application, including in relation to matters such as defamation and
incitement to hatred or violence. The print sector should be given
an opportunity to develop a self-regulatory system.
3. Journalists' Organizations
Journalists in Afghanistan should be free to organize themselves
into professional associations. At the same time, journalists should
not be required to be members of any particular association and
there should be no formal conditions on who may practise journalism.
Recommendations for direct support from the international community
We call on the international community to provide resources to
assist with the following media development activities.
1. Training
There is a critical shortage of trained Afghan journalists,
producers and technicians so training must be a priority for
international efforts to promote media development. This need
applies to all media, print, as well as both public and private
broadcasters. Participants should be drawn from all of Afghanistan's
29 provinces and a particular effort should be made to include women
in training programmes. Close coordination between NGOs is necessary
to avoid duplication and to ensure that participants are committed
to independent reporting.
2. Support to Independent Media
While organized ethnic factions and local power brokers are likely
to attempt to exert control over certain media, there will also be
legitimate independent local broadcasters and publications. Support
to independent local media is critically important to the
longer-term development of civil society in Afghanistan and these
independent media should be the primary focus of international
assistance efforts. Support should also be provided to the public
broadcaster, but only if it meets certain standards of independence.
3. Funding
It is essential that a wide range of donors participate in a
coordinated media assistance programme to avoid any appearance of
domination by a single outside state. It is unlikely that the Afghan
economy will generate significant advertising revenue for some time,
so donors should be aware of the need for sustained support over a
period of time. To ensure coordination, the UN should convene a
media donors' meeting at the earliest possible opportunity. Levels
of assistance to broadcasters or publications should be sufficient
to promote varied and professional media but, at the same time,
should not create a media sector that is unsustainable over the
longer term. Flexibility and constructive dialogue among all local
and international partners will be critical to this endeavour.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director, Article 19
David Hoffman, President, Internews
Monroe Price, Director, Programme in Comparative Media Law, Oxford
University
Edward Girardet, Director, Media Action International
Anthony Borden, Executive Director, Institute for War and Peace
Reporting
Jesper Hojberg, Executive Director, International Media Support
Robert Menard, General Secretary, Reporters Sans Frontières
Aidan White, General Secretary, International Federation of
Journalists
Ann Cooper, Executive Director, Committee to Protect Journalists
For further information, contact Article 19, 33 Islington High St.,
London N19LH, UK. Tel: +44 207 278 9292, Fax: +44 207 713 1356,
e-mail: asia@article19.org , Internet: http://www.article19.org
Source: Article 19 press release, London, in English 11 Dec 01
Kabul TV/Radio
Radio Afghanistan in the capital Kabul broadcasts from 0130-0330 gmt
and 1130-1630 gmt on 1530 kHz mediumwave and 96 MHz FM. The news in
Pashto is at 1430 gmt, and in Dari at 1500 gmt.
Kabul TV broadcasts via a 10-Watt transmitter, which is very low
power in terms of TV broadcasting, so range would be limited,
probably to central Kabul. The station is on the air for three hours
a day.
Balkh Radio
Balkh Radio, which is based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif,
Balkh Province, continues to be heard. On Wednesday 12 December, the
0230-0430 gmt (0700-0900 local time) morning broadcast was observed
by BBC Monitoring; the evening broadcast was also observed from 1130
gmt.
Broadcasts are on the usual frequency of 1584 kHz.
US PsyOps radio: broadcast in Arabic heard
US PsyOps Information Radio continues to be observed by BBC
Monitoring broadcasting in Pashto and Dari to Afghanistan. On
Wednesday 12 December, the broadcasts were heard from 0030-0530 gmt
and again from 1230 gmt.
Information Radio is heard on 8700 kHz upper sideband mode and at
times on the former Kandahar mediumwave frequency of 864 kHz. A
third announced channel of 1107 kHz (former Kabul frequency) has not
yet been observed by BBC Monitoring. The 864, 980 (reportedly a
relay of Voice of America) and 1107 kHz channels are believed to be
broadcast from US PsyOps "Commando Solo" EC-130 aircraft.
Radio Voice of Afghanistan broadcasts... [no details]
Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring
Telephone +44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk
Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 12 Dec 01 (via DXLD
1-196)
Afghanistan - Media round-up Friday 14 December 2001
- Iran donates radio, TV transmitters
- US firm promises backing for Afghan TV and radio
- UK-based Radio Voice of Afghanistan introduces weekly news review
Iran donates radio, TV transmitters | Text of report by Iranian news
agency IRNA
Kabul, 13 December: The Islamic Republic of Iran has donated two
more television transmitters and a radio transmitter to Afghanistan
as a gift.
The transmitters will be installed in Kabul and, when operational,
the inhabitants of the city and other towns around Kabul will be
able to receive the programmes of Kabul television which can
presently only be seen in parts of the city.
During their five-year rule, the Taleban destroyed Afghanistan's
radio and television networks.
Following the fall of the Taleban, Iran sent a television
transmitter to Kabul, allowing the city's television station to
become immediately operational. Kabul television currently
broadcasts for four hours a day.
The two television transmitters given to Afghanistan have a power of
200 Watts and 100 Watts. When they become operational, besides
covering Kabul, they will also service adjacent provinces such as
Meydan Shahr and Parwan.
The radio transmitter has a power of 5 Watts.
Iranian engineers began the installation of the transmitters in
Kabul yesterday [12 December].
Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in Persian 1735 gmt 13 Dec 01
US firm promises backing for Afghan TV and radio | Text of report by
Afghan Balkh radio on 13 December
The head of the Balkh Province Radio and Television [word
indistinct], Ustad Abdorrab Jahed, the general director of radio
[word indistinct] esteemed Engineer Abdollah, the technical director
of radio and television, esteemed Abdol Jalil Usmani, and the
general director of the radio (?broadcasting) department, esteemed
Lotfollah Raoufi have had a meeting with the [coordinators] of the
American project for reconstruction of Afghanistan Mr (?Bill), Mr
(?Aleris Kasin) and the deputy head of the [word indistinct]
company, (?Farid Paikar). The technical problems of the radio and
television body were discussed during the meeting. The delegation of
the American project for reconstruction of Afghanistan gave
assurances of support to meet the requirements of the radio and
television body [break in reception up to end of the item].
Source: Balkh radio, Mazar-e Sharif, in Turkmen 1450 gmt 13 Dec 01
Radio Voice of Afghanistan introduces weekly news review
On 14 December, Radio Voice of Afghanistan, which is based in
London, introduced a new Dari-language programme in its 1330-1430
gmt broadcast on 9950 kHz .
"Afghanistan in the Past Week" reviewed news relating to
Afghanistan. It included reports on the fall of the Taleban
stronghold Kandahar; power-sharing agreements among Pashtun
commanders for the new interim government; Herat commander Gen
Esmail Khan and former president Borhanoddin Rabbani express
willingness to cooperate with new government.
Children most suffering group in Afghan society - deprived of
education and a normal life - to help their families they pull
carts, clean shoes, carry water, beg. One reason is that their
fathers have gone to Pakistan to work leaving the children and their
mother behind without support; 150,000 children are in need of
urgent assistance; overall 1,500,000 children need assistance; 7.5
million Afghans are suffering from the drought; there are 10 million
mines in the country; over 70 per cent of the population do not have
clean drinking water.
The radio station broadcasts news, a UK press review, weather
reports, recitations from the Koran, songs and poetry in Pashto and
Dari. Today's broadcast also included a special programme on the
plight of children in Afghanistan.
Said Jalal Karim, Radio Voice of Afghanistan's founder, is an Afghan
entrepreneur currently operating from London.
The station's postal address is: Afghan Broadcasting Company, 21
Worship Street, London, UK EC2A 2DW. Since 2 December, the station
has also announced a contact address in Kabul: Post Box 5459, Kabul.
Radio Voice of Afghanistan can be contacted by telephone on +44
(0)207 382 9610 or by e-mail at afbc9950@hotmail.com . The contact
for press inquiries is Penny Munro. [see below]
Kabul TV/Radio
Radio Afghanistan in the capital Kabul broadcasts from 0130-0330 gmt
and 1130-1630 gmt on 1530 kHz mediumwave and 96 MHz FM. The news in
Pashto is at 1430 gmt, and in Dari at 1500 gmt.
Kabul TV broadcasts via a 10-Watt transmitter, which is very low
power in terms of TV broadcasting, so range would be limited,
probably to central Kabul. The station is on the air for three hours
a day.
Balkh Radio
Balkh Radio, which is based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif,
Balkh Province, continues to be heard. On Friday 14 December, the
morning broadcast was observed as scheduled at 0430 gmt, but
reception was lost at 0444 gmt; the evening broadcast was also
observed from 1134-1521 gmt. Broadcasts are on the usual frequency
of 1584 kHz.
US PsyOps radio
US PsyOps Information Radio continues to be observed by BBC
Monitoring broadcasting in Pashto and Dari to Afghanistan. On Friday
14 December, the broadcasts were heard from 0030-0530 and 1130-1500
gmt. [note earlier timing of second broadcast! --gh]
Information Radio is heard on 8700 kHz upper sideband mode and at
times on the former Kandahar mediumwave frequency of 864 kHz. A
third announced channel of 1107 kHz (former Kabul frequency) has not
yet been observed by BBC Monitoring. The 864, 980 (reportedly a
relay of Voice of America) and 1107 kHz channels are believed to be
broadcast from US PsyOps "Commando Solo" EC-130 aircraft.
Source: Radio Voice of Afghanistan, London, in Dari and Pashto 1330
gmt 14 Dec 01
Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring
Telephone +44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk
Source: BBC Monitoring research, 14 Dec 01 (via DXLD 1-197)
Afghanistan - Media round-up Sunday 16 December 2001
- Philanthropic Pakistani web site adds new Afghanistan section
- Iranian aid includes radio and TV sets
- Reaction in Kabul to release of Bin-Ladin video tape
- Jordan detains Al-Jazeera correspondent after pro-Bin-Ladin rally
Philanthropic Pakistani web site adds new Afghanistan section | Text
of report in English by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news
agency
Islamabad, 15 December: In order to keep the members and visitors
abreast of latest developments in Afghanistan, TelMedPak has built a
separate but comprehensive Afghan section on its web site.
The section contains information about ongoing war, country's
history and mainstream personalities. Besides, latest news and
expert analyses have also been made available.
The NGO section of the web site, http://www.telmedpak.com , has the
specific links to Afghan section, which enables the visitors to get
their required information about Afghanistan.
The major political shift in Afghanistan after 11 September
terrorist attacks on World Trade Centre and Pentagon and US-led
strikes against Taleban compels the people of Pakistan to know more
what is happening in the neighbouring country.
Project Coordinator TelMedPak, Shams-ul-Arifeen, said the organiza+
tion aims at providing important information at the doorstep of its
members and visitors.
He said TelMedPak is a philanthropic project of Elixir Technologies
Corporation, which has been initiated to provide specialized health-
care services to the people of underserved and backward areas.
"To promote its cause and create awareness among the general public,
the organization has established the web site www.telmedpak.com .
Besides providing healthcare information, we intend to inform our
visitors about the other important matters like war in Afghanistan
and anthrax."
He said the Afghan section also contains photographs of the Afghan
refugees and the camps, which were exclusively taken by TelMedPak.
The basic purpose of creating the section is to invite public atten-
tion towards the miseries of Afghans inside and outside Afghanistan,
he added. He appealed to the people to cooperate with the government
and human development agencies to lessen the pain of Afghan people.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in
English 1129 gmt 15 Dec 01
Iranian aid includes radio and TV sets
On 15 December Iran sent a convoy carrying 110 tonnes of humani-
tarian assistance to Afghanistan, the Egyptian news agency MENA
reported. As well as food, equipment, clothing and medicines, the
consignment also included television and radio sets.
Jordan detains Al-Jazeera correspondent after pro-Bin-Ladin rally
Yasir Abu-Hilalah, the Jordan correspondent for Qatar's Al-Jazeera
satellite TV channel, was detained by security forces on 14 December
after filming a small rally in support of Usamah Bin-Ladin,
international news agencies reported.
The Al-Jazeera office in Amman said its correspondent was held for
over 24 hours by police after leaving the southern town of Ma'an,
where the pro-Bin-Ladin demonstration was held following Friday
prayers.
Balkh Radio
Balkh Radio, which is based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif,
Balkh Province, continues to be heard. On Sunday 16 December, the
morning broadcast was observed at 0430 gmt, two hours later than
scheduled, owing to celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan. The
radio signed off at 0807 gmt; the evening broadcast was also
observed from 1228 gmt. Broadcasts are on the usual frequency of
1584 kHz.
Balkh Radio has called on the public to be vigilant and look out for
Taleban still hiding in the city and inform the security forces of
their presence.
During public announcements broadcast on Saturday 15 December, the
radio said: "During Ramadan an urgent decision has been made by the
security forces for citizens to live in peace. We hope citizens will
visit friends and family and call on them to show unity and solida-
rity. If anyone does not obey this statement or if anyone sees or
suspects hidden Taleban, inform the security forces as soon as
possible."
Another announcement on the 15th banned people from firing into the
air to celebrate the end of Ramadan: "Pointless firing into the air,
which is causing alarm to citizens and costing too much, is strictly
prohibited."
On Sunday 16 December, Balkh Radio carried an announcement by the
labour and social affairs department announcing a three-day holiday
from 16-18 December inclusive in honour of Eid al-Fitr (marking the
end of Ramadan).
US PsyOps radio carries programming in Arabic
US PsyOps Information Radio continues to be observed by BBC Monito-
ring broadcasting in Pashto and Dari to Afghanistan. On Sunday 16
December, the broadcasts were heard at 0030-0530 and 1230-1500 gmt.
On Saturday 15 December, a brief amount of programming in Arabic was
noted from 0104-0110 and 0128-0130 gmt, consisting of a short speech
with many mentions of Usamah Bin-Ladin, followed by Arabic music in
the first instance and another talk in the second time period.
Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring
Telephone +44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk
Source: BBC Monitoring research 16 Dec 01 (excerpts via DXLD 1-198)
Afghanistan - Media round-up Monday 17 December 2001
Iran helps rebuild radio/TV facilities in Kabul | Text of report in
English by Iranian news agency IRNA
Kabul, 17 December: Head of Afghanistan's future interim government
Hamed Karzai here Monday [17 December] appreciated Iran's relief
packages for the war-ravaged country, and called for the
continuation of Iranian support for the people of Afghanistan.
In a meeting with Iranian diplomats in the Afghan capital, Karzai
extended an invitation to Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi to
participate in the ceremony to transfer power to his administration.
Iran's Red Crescent Society has dispatched several relief
consignments by land and air to Afghanistan.
Also, Iran's Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) contri-
buted to the reconstruction of radio and television facilities in
Kabul.
Hamed Karzai was unanimously elected the head of Afghanistan's
transitional government at the recent UN-sponsored conference of
Afghan leaders in Bonn to discuss the future political set up of the
war-torn country.
Karzai's government will assume power in Kabul on 22 December.
Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in English 1521 gmt 17 Dec 01
Taleban "minister" castigates international media for unchecked sto-
ries | Text of report by Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news
agency
Peshawar, 16 December: The Taleban finance minister has called on
international media not to believe everyone they interview.
The Taleban finance minister, Mola Agha Jan Motasem, has called on
international media to check the identity of a person before
interviewing him/her.
Mola Agha Jan Motasem, who was speaking from an unknown location in
Afghanistan to Afghan Islamic Press, said that foreign media,
especially the BBC, should not believe anyone they interview. They
should first establish the true identity of the person.
He said that a day or two ago, a person introduced himself as the
interior minister of the Taleban and said that Usamah [Bin-Ladin]
had left Afghanistan. It should be said that the person was not Mola
Abdorrazaq [Taleban interior minister] or the Taleban interior
minister.
He added that an anti-Taleban campaign has started now. This is also
part of the same campaign. Source: Afghan Islamic Press news agency,
Peshawar, in Pashto 1713 gmt 16 Dec 01
Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring
Telephone +44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk
Source: BBC Monitoring research 17 Dec 01 (via DXLD 1-199)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx----------------------
Thanks to the following contributors :
Source Abbreviations:
A-DX : A-DX-mailing list-Austria
BBCM : BBC Monitoring-UK
BCDX : Broadcast DX-Germany
CDX : Cumbre DX-USA
ConDig : Conexion Digital-Argentina
CRW : Clandestine Radio Watch-Germany
DXLD : DX Listening Digest-USA
EDXP : Electronic DX Press-Australia
HCDX : Hard-Core-DX-mailing list-USA
JAP : Japan Premium-Japan
OBS : Observer-Bulgaria
PDX : Play DX-Italy
QIP : QSL Information Pages-Germany
TDP : Transmitter Documentation Project
TFW : The Four Winds Online-Italy
BBCM items are Copyright BBCM 2001.
______________________________________________________