Afghans abroad phone home

Tuesday, 18 January, 2000, 03:22 GMT

For the first time in seven years, people in Afghanistan can make international telephone calls using the country's own phone system.

An American company in Kabul has re-established links with thirteen countries, and the list of destinations is growing.

In recent years a satellite phone has been the only means of telephoning outside the country.

But a minute's call cost the ordinary Afghan half a month's wages.

People travelling to and from Afghanistan - which has the highest refugee population in the world - are always being asked to carry messages.

The American company which restored the link has had to stop working on developing a mobile phone network because of American trade sanctions.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service