Radio DJ for Sahib Dad Hamdar broadcasts one of his radio shows in the remote Kalagush region of Afghanistan. (CBS)
Posted: Monday, 21 September 2009 4:14AM
Afghanistan's War - Waged on the Airwaves
Kalagush, Afghanistan (CBS) -- U.S. forces in Afghanistan are waging a new kind of battle in their campaign to win hearts and minds. You might call it the "radio wars," as CBS News Correspondent Mandy Clark reports from eastern Afghanistan.
Running a radio station wouldn't normally be considered a dangerous job, but for Sahib Dad Hamdar it could cost him his life.
"The Taliban want to kill me for what I do," said Hamdar, speaking in Pashtu.
The Taliban are angry because Radio Kalagush broadcasts programs on women's issues and education in a remote eastern province of Afghanistan. That's a challenge to the Taliban's conservative ideology.
"Questions and Answers" is the most popular show. It's educational trivia contest for both boys and girls - an idea unthinkable to the Taliban, who oppose girls' education.
In a region of Afghanistan where literary is less than 20 percent, radio is the best way to reach the people.
The U.S. funds the station and also helps build the audience by handing out radios. They've given out hundreds so far.
"We were in a village this morning and that's all they want, more radios," said Maj. Billy Siekman, an operations officer for the Army's 2-77 Field Artillery Battalion.
Village women say they liked the women's show the most. They want a segment on basic first aid and child care.
But this is a battle of the airwaves. Another villager is listening to a Taliban radio station. They have sprung up around the country as well - broadcasting threats to kill those who cooperate with international forces.
"The Taliban messages are intimidating and dangerous," the villager says. "They encourage the young to join the Taliban and kill people."
U.S. forces admit that people could use their new radios to tune into the Taliban but say given the choice, Afghans wants positive information.
"A lot of the messages that we put out are specifically to help the people, for example, drinking clean water, how to take care of your child," said Army Lt. Stacey Gross. "Those are really productive messages versus hate and discontent messages that we generally hear from the Taliban."
Hamdar is hoping to expand the reach of the station. Knowledge, he says, is the best weapon against the darkness.
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