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IEA confirms 280 radio stations currently on-air in the country
Acknowledging World Radio Day on Tuesday, February 13, the Ministry of Information and Culture said the Islamic Emirate is committed to supporting the media and confirmed that 280 radio stations are currently on air across Afghanistan.
Deputy minister Mahajer Farahi said: “Currently, there are about 280 radio stations in our country, including Kabul, in all the provinces and districts of the country.”
After print media, radio was the second media type in Afghanistan.
The first radio station in Afghanistan began broadcasting in 1927 in Kabul and over the years, before the arrival of TV, radio was the main source of information in the country.
One popular radio service in Afghanistan is Ariana FM, which was launched in 2005.
Nabila Mohammadi, an employee of Ariana FM, said: “Regarding the fact that there is no television or electricity in some houses, our radio listeners can listen to the radio even on their telephones and in their cars.”
Ali Heidari, another Ariana FM employee, said: “After the developments in the country [in 2021], a number of private and government radios started operating again, and the radios found a very good position.”
The office of the deputy head of the UN in Kabul also acknowledged World Radio Day and said it is difficult to imagine a world without radio. The office said the organization supports freedom of expression in Afghanistan.
Last year, 24 new radio stations were established in the country and 19 others, who had suspended broadcasts, restarted.
Hojatullah Mujadadi, the head of the Free Journalist Association of Afghanistan, said: “We are celebrating World Radio Day while there are 358 media outlets in Afghanistan … of which around 1,800 male and 270 female employees are engaged in sharing media information to the Afghan people.”
Abdul Qadim Weyar, the head of the Committee for the Immunity of Journalists, said: “There are currently between 250 to 300 radio stations in Afghanistan.”
However, not having timely access to information is the biggest problem for journalists, and many media outlets also face financial difficulties.
The first radio station in Afghanistan named Radio Kabul was established in 1925 and its first program was broadcast in 1927. Radio Kabul is still broadcasting.
Former Pakistani diplomats, speaking at a roundtable discussion in Islamabad, underscored the importance of sustained dialogue with Afghanistan to address bilateral differences.
The discussion, organized on Friday by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, highlighted that the current situation in Afghanistan has direct consequences for regional security and stability. Participants stressed that constructive engagement and regular communication are the only viable pathways to resolving existing challenges.
The former diplomats pointed out that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are deeply interconnected, and any strain between the two sides inevitably impacts the wider region.
They further emphasized that building trust, enhancing practical cooperation, and fostering mutual understanding are essential prerequisites for achieving lasting regional stability.
A UNHCR delegation led by Filippa Candler, Head of UNHCR in Afghanistan, met with Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Pakistan, to discuss ongoing humanitarian assistance and challenges faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
The meeting, which also included Charlie Goodlake, Senior External Relations Officer for the UNHCR Commission in Afghanistan, focused on the plight of remaining Afghan refugees, students, and other Afghan nationals living in Pakistan.
Ambassador Shakeeb welcomed the delegation and praised UNHCR for closely monitoring refugees’ living conditions and communicating their situation to the international community. However, he noted that the assistance provided so far remains insufficient.
“Although the support is limited, it is commendable that UNHCR continues to highlight refugees’ hardships,” Shakeeb said during the meeting.
Candler acknowledged the constraints, stating that despite financial limitations, UNHCR remains committed to providing the maximum possible assistance to Afghan refugees.
Goodlake provided an update on UNHCR’s support for returnees, saying the organization delivered approximately $25 million in assistance to refugees returning from Pakistan and Iran in 2025. He confirmed that UNHCR’s support would continue in coordination with the Afghan government.
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to continue cooperation and strengthen coordination on refugee and returnee support.
Gul Hasan Hasan, the Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Moscow, met with Tanju Bilgic, the Ambassador of Turkey, to discuss strengthening and expanding political, economic, and cultural relations between Kabul and Ankara.
In a statement issued by the Afghan Embassy in Moscow on Friday, the meeting also expressed appreciation for Turkey’s balanced policy toward the Islamic Emirate, based on mutual respect.
Both sides emphasized the need to facilitate visa issuance for Afghan traders and patients by Turkey and to further strengthen comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
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