Washington, Jan. 26 (TNS): The United States has asked Pakistan to retract the ban placed on Radio Mashaal, a Pashto language broadcaster linked to the US-funded Radio Free Europe, American media reported on Friday.
Radio Mashaal was shut down by the interior ministry on the on recommendations of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a press briefing on Thursday that her country does not understand why Pakistan has placed a ban on Radio Mashal which is run by Radio Free Europe (RFE).
The United States has “expressed concern” over Pakistan’s decision to discontinue Radio Mashaal’s services and has “demanded that the transmission be restored immediately,” reports said.
Meanwhile, RFE also expressed concern on Friday that “members of Radio Mashaal are facing pressure by authorities following the closure of the Pashto-language service’s Islamabad office on ISI’s orders last week.”
According to a press release from RFE, President Thomas Kent said there were indications that authorities were seeking to compel Radio Mashal staffers to make forced statements against the news organisation.
A January 19 notification issued by the ministry, directed towards Islamabad chief commissioner and police chief, had said that as per an ISI report, the radio airs programmes “found against the interests of Pakistan and in line with hostile intelligence agency’s agenda”.
