Afghan Police officer hands out radios keyed to RADIO GURESHK (wikimedia commons)
With all the commotion over the Wikileaks files, I figured I’d search them for tidbits about radio related activities around Afghanistan, of which we’ve taken an interest at Radio Survivor.
Turns out there are plenty. Here are a few. I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert on any of this intel. Just posting what I found. But it’s clear from these military and diplomatic cables that radio is really crucial to that country.
Baseline Perceptions of the Afghan People(mod)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
(Secret, release only to:) Baseline Perceptions of the Afghan People, FEB 2007, POTF-AF S2: . . .
(Secret, release only to:) DEVELOPMENT: When asked what the main reason for the countrys progress was nearly a third cites security, followed by peace/end of war (29%) and then disarmament (26%). Just over half of the Afghans feel that their economic prosperity has increased since the fall of the Taliban. When asked what is the biggest problem at the local level unemployment ranks as the top concern (18%) followed fairly closely with basic needs such as electricity, food, water, and health care. Perceptions of foreign forces reconstruction efforts vary widely from region to region. Kabul has the highest perception rate of foreign forces helping a lot. Radio is the most popular means for people to receive information of national importance followed by television and family and friends. Men rely on radio and women rely on word of mouth for information. Only 20% of Afghans said they would completely trust information from foreign forces and 44% would trust the information a little bit.
140400Z AUG 07 Panjshir PRT Radio Contract Signing
Provincial Reconstruction Team, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, and Panjshir Radio representatives met to discuss coalition purchase of air time to transmit coalition and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan messages/information operations. Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force rep (Captain Phi) provided expertise on cost baselines and messaging. Provincial Reconstruction Team and Panjshir Radio agreed to fund 60 minutes of messages per day at $1.66 per minute. Agreement will only go into effect if funding by Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force is secured ($6K for two month trial period). Intent is to provide Provincial Reconstruction Team and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force messages via air waves. Additionally, detail plan developed for radio addresses by key provincial leaders (Governor, PC members, Line Directors, etc.). In addition to supporting coalition and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan govt Information operations strategies, the agreement represents capital for the new radio station where the Radio Board can purchase new equipment and improve programming through the revenue gained.
Afghan Regional Security Integrated Command-C Insurgents ATTACK RADIO TOWER In the vicinity of BALA BALUK
Insurgents ATTACK RADIO TOWER IN BALA BALUK DISTRICT. An unspecified explosive device was placed at the base of an inoperable Roshan tower (41S Military support 6157 2388) in Bala Baluk district, Farah province at 022017L Marine 08. The radio tower received no damage; however the generator was completely destroyed. No Further Information. EVENT CLOSED.
ATTACK ON In the vicinity of (ROUTE ): %%% INJ/DAM
TWO TRIBES, %%% AND %%% OPENED FIRE TARGETING %%% PD AND WITH EACH OTHER.
IPS RADIO UPDATE : REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THAT THE BOTH TRIBES (APPROX %%% INDIVIDUALS) ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ATTACK THE POLICE %%%. AND ARE REQUESTING MNF ASSISTANCE.
IPS RADIO UPDATE: THE SAME TRIBES ARE ATTACKING %%% SHAM PD, MC %%%. THE TRIBES ARE CORDONING THE AREA AND SETTING UP FOR A MORTAR ATTACK TO TAKE IT OVER. ATTACK IS CONTINUING AND %%% IS STILL REQUESTED .
IPS RADIO UPDATE: Unknown NUMBER OF MORTAR ROUNDS IMPACTED THE %%% PD INJURING 5X IPS
PSYOP
The Provincial Reconstruction Team provided 12 hours of PSYOP Radio Content Programming to Radio Ghaznwyan FM Station and Radio Ghazni AM/FM Station for week of 6-12 Nov. Topics included Afghanistan History, Law, and Human Rights in both Dari and Pashto, and a spreadsheet with the specific radio content programming for the week of 6-12 Nov will be forward sepcor to SPARTAN. Additionally, Provincial Reconstruction Team paid Radio Ghaznwyan $3,900 for Radio Content Programming air time for the month of October.
NANGARHAR Provincial Reconstruction Team SHAIQ NETWORK OPENED AN ALL FEMALE RADIO STATION
Coalition Forces PSYOPS radio station contractor Shaiq Network opened a all-female radio station on within his Jalalabad Network facility, Called Nargis (Female name for flower) is run by an all-female staff and operates from 6 a.m. to midnight.
RADIO STATION MANAGER AND BROTHER SHOOTING
O/A 22:00 Local time 24 MAY 07, A Coalition Forces ASSOCIATES” (MUTALEB) BROTHER (AHMED) WAS SHOT WHILE WALKING WITH THEIR UNCLE TO A NEAR BY VILLAGE. MUTALEB OWNS A RADIO STATION THAT Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force USES TO DISTRIBUTE MESSAGES TO KAPISA PROVINCE.
AFTER THE SHOOTING, MUTALEB CALLED Task force CINCINNATUS” INTERPRETER (OMAR) TO INFORM HIM THAT SOMEONE HAD ATTACKED HIS FAMILY. OMAR TOLD HIM TO GET A HOLD OF Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force SINCE THEY ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force RECEIVED THE BROTHER AND Medical Evacuation HM TO Task force MED. HE RECEIVED A Gunshot wound TO THE LEFT FEMUR. THE FOLLOWING DAY Task force CINCINNATUS S5 ESCORTED MUTALEB TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEE HIS BROTHER WHO RECEIVED SURGERY RELATED TO THE Gunshot wound.
SINCE MUTALEB IS PRO-Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, RUNS A RADIO STATION, A MAGAZINE, COMMUNITY CULTURE CENTER (SUPPORTED BY USAID), AND IS GETTING HIS MEDICAL DEGREE…HE IS A THREAT TO Opposing Militant Forces WITHIN THE AREA. [read the rest here]
Informational – New radio station starts broadcasts in east Afghanistan
IAP20070207950014 Kabul National TV Afghanistan in Dari 1430 GMT 06 Feb 07
[OSC Translated Text]
New radio station starts broadcasts in east Afghanistan
Text of report by Afghan state TV on 6 February
[Presenter] A radio station called Saday-e Azad Nejrab [Free Voice of Nejrab] has started operating in Kapisa Province. Nazira Kohestani reports:
[Nazira Kohestani] At a ceremony held in Nejrab District, Dr Esmat Elahi, a member of the Independent National Radio and Television Commission, conveyed the message of the Information and Culture Minister [Abdol Karim Khorram], talked about the important role of radio programmes in Nejrab District and described the launch of radio programmes as important in enriching the culture and informing public of different political and social issues.
[Dr Esmat Elahi] With the establishment of Radio Saday-e Azad Nejrab in Nejrab District of Kapisa Province, not only the locals, but the brave young men, religious scholars, local figures, the esteemed district chief and the esteemed governor of Kapisa Province, in particular the message of the esteemed minister, Mr Khorram, encouraged the local media outlets in villages and provinces to be a source for education, guidance, information and sound entertainments and that they should broadcast effective programmes.
Bridge collapsed in Behsud District of Nangarhar Province (Ministry of Defence)
Three people were killed and five others were injured when a bridge collapsed in Behsud District of Nangarhar Province today [17 April]. The head of the district, Mohammad Nazir Dorani, told radio Afghanistan: “The bridge at Behsud District of Nangarhar, built by Japan two years ago, was destroyed by high water levels caused by flooding. The flood carried away eight people, five of whom were rescued. The dead bodies of the other three have not yet been recovered. The flood has also destroyed hundreds of hectares of farmland. The collapse of this bridge has caused problems for the local people.”
