Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement today closed the Kabul office of the BBC and expelled its correspondent after accusing the broadcaster of biased coverage of the country.
BBC reporter Ms Kate Clark left overland for neighbouring Pakistan before the expiry of her 24-hour expulsion order issued by the foreign ministry on yesterday.
"It is a big shock. I am extremely distressed and sad to leave," Clark said before leaving. "I was committed to this country and very fond of Afghans."
"I hope to be back as I am attached to Afghanistan and want to do my job," she added.
Ms Clark, who had been based in Kabul for 18 months, has been accused by the Taliban of filing biased reports of its controversial order to destroy all statues in Afghanistan, including two giant Buddhas hewn out of cliffs in the central province of Bamiyan.
"The apparent reason for the expulsion is my report in which I said Afghans generally oppose the demolishing of the statues," Ms Clark said.
The Taliban refused to say if they would allow the BBC to reopen its Kabul office, but Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Osman Sheryar said BBC coverage of Afghan affairs since the purist Islamic movement swept to power in 1996 has been provocative.
The BBC has operated in Afghanistan for 10 years. Its local language services draw many listeners in a country that lacks freedom of speech and expression and where there is no independent press.