BBC World Service's Eurasia Region head Behrouz Afagh was quoted in an official release saying, " The BBC has broadcast news to Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and the Gulf - for 60 years in Persian and 20 years in the Pashto language. But this is the first time we have produced a dedicated schedule for Afghanistan itself incorporating the key languages.

"This new schedule is an exciting and historic development for the BBC and Afghanistan. The BBC enjoys an unparalleled reach, and is widely listened to and respected by Afghans."

The new dedicated schedule features three hour blocks of new programming in the key languages of Afghanistan (Persian and Pashto; plus some English and Uzbek) at breakfast, lunchtime and the evening. The backbone of the new schedule will be domestic and international news.

There will be a strong emphasis on discussion and interactive debate on civil society and democratic politics, particularly leading up to the Loya Jirgah. This is the Afghan Grand Assembly that decides on constitutional changes and takes place next month.