Radio host Ms. Nigat Hunzei at Radio Power 99 in Islamabad. Facilities at community radios in Pakistan are somewhat more modest. Photo: Jeppe Matzen/IMS

Pakistan's tribal areas and the districts of the adjoining North Western Frontier Province, which are currently significantly affected by the presence of local Taleban and militants outfits, are experiencing a new media phenomenon that could help curb the spread of extremism among the population

Community radio stations operated by private people, who risk their lives by airing opinions and wishes of the local population, have sprung up during the past years in Pakistan. These stations typically have a reach of less than 25 kilometres, but are often widely listened to by those people within that radius. People can give their opinions and concerns on open air programmes. A radio station in the conflict stricken district of Bajaur produces children's programmes, where kids tell about their hopes and aspirations.

- Kids tell about how they want to become a doctor, a teacher or an engineer later on in life. This presents different values and hopes for a future life than what the extremists preach, says Altafullah Khan, professor of Mass Communication at Peshawar University.

Fighting Taleban on the airwaves

He believes that the radios can play an important role in combating extremism in the areas, especially if they are given technical support and are made legal according to the Frontier Crime Regulations (FCR) or by license from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

So far no radio stations in the areas have been embraced by the authorities. On the contrary, the authorities often suspect them of being the mouthpiece of militants and extremist. This perception is created because militants, such as Maulana Fazlullah - known as Maulana Radio - have reportedly  shown how radio can help in organising campaigns in the district of Swat in the North-West Frontier Province. His so-called sermons aired via an illegal FM transmitter have led to movements against polio vaccination, girls' schools, and shops selling music and movies. Through most of 2007, he used the airwaves to advocate jihad against the Pakistani military and the US.

But according to Atalfullah Khan, most of the approximately 70 community radio stations in the areas do not air extremist viewpoints. In fact, he believes that the best way to counter these hate speech radio stations is by creating competition from those radios that air the hopes for an ordinary life on behalf of the local population.

- Can you imagine what would have happened in Swat if PEMRA had responded to Fazlullah's earlier illegal transmissions by licensing a host of alternative community radio stations in the area? Students, non-profit organisations, community activists, and minority groups could have countered his messages with opinions of their own, says Professor Khan.