February 27, 2002
‘11’ INDIA OFFERS AFGHANISTAN ASSISTANCE TO RECONSTRUCT MEDIA SET-UPTEAM OF EXPERTS TO VISIT KABUL
The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj assured the Interim Government of Afghanistan, of India’s full support in reviving the Radio and TV infrastructure,which was destroyed by the Taliban regime. This was conveyed to the visiting Afghanistan Minister of Information and Culture, Dr. Raheen Makhdoom, who called on her, here today, Smt. Swaraj agreed to send a composite delegation of Information and Broadcasting experts next month to Kabul, to assess the damage to the media set-up and prepare a detailed report to provide assistance in both hardware and programme production. At present Afghanistan has a terrestrial TV station in Kabul and small TV set-ups in the regions. Radio also has only small Medium Wave transmitters.Smt. Swaraj also agreed that India could to run a special short term training course at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi for electronic and print media personnel from Afghanistan.
Dr. Makhdoom informed that the Taliban regime had completely destroyed the National Printing House in Kabul and requested Indian assistance in re-starting local Newspapers and also for providing printing infrastructure. Smt. Swaraj said the visiting Indian team would also make a complete project proposal in this regard.