Afghan bloggers tip toe onto the net

The internet in Afghanistan is expensive, erratic and still frowned upon by many of the country's mullahs. The US has pumped millions of dollars into building up an internet and cellular network in Afghanistan. The heaviest users are the military and aid workers.

But suddenly Afghans are getting on line and creating blogs

More and more Afghans are taking to the net. Some are trying to project to the world a broader image of the country than that portrayed by the international media. But its a double edged sword, as the numerous Al Qaida bloggers have shown.

Here Najieh Ghulami meets the Afghans who live on the world wide web and discovers the sort of impact it's having on a small elite.

She also looks at how increased internet penetration will help the country's development.

First broadcast on 17 March 2010