Progress and Pitfalls of “Peace-Building”

in Afghanistan continues....

There is a significant presence of international actors in post-war media development. The international media development organization, Internews has helped them establish an FM radio station. Around 300 publications are registered with the Ministry of Culture, large part of which is operating from Kabul. Most Afghan cities and towns have modest publications-dailies, weeklies, bi-weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies and some happen to be mouthpieces of political parties and military factions like Payam-e-Mujahid and Afghan Millat. Afghans are still steeped into a radio culture as the majority of the population, particularly in the remote rural regions, depend on radio for news and

information. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and many other international stations broadcasting in Afghan languages provide the

only reliable sources of news and information. In addition to the projected Internews community stations, the state- run Radio Afghanistan has 17 stations. Owned and managed by the young

businessmen Australian-Afghan Mohsini brothers, Arman FM is the country’s most successful commercial pop station. Starting in late 2003, the station soon captured the imagination of Kabul’s inhabitants (which is

estimated to be around four million). Attracting around 80 per cent of the city’s listenership, it’s still the most popular station in the capital.

To be continued....