Taliban detain Pakistani journalist in Kandahar

ISLAMABAD – Taliban insurgents detained Khyber News journalist Matin Khan in Kandahar for reporting without permission, a local news channel reported.

Geo News quoting sources claimed that Khan has been detained along with his cameraman and is currently locked up in the container. The family of journalists said that the duo has contacted once on the instant messaging service WhatsApp since being locked up abroad.

Afghan Taliban arrested two Pakistani journalists in Kandahar, a Taliban commander on Twitter said the journalists were arrested last evening after entering in Kandahar province @suhailshaheen1 @Zabehulah_M33 @fawadchaudhry @ForeignOfficePk pic.twitter.com/7VyOQUCnXK

— Asia Free Press (AFP) (@AsiaFreePress) August 26, 2021

The Taliban Information Office said a Pakistani journalist was detained as he was found recording footage with taking permission from the local administration. The statement further added that interrogation of the Khyber News journo is underway.

Meanwhile, the press club condemned the arrest of the Pakistani journalist and cameraman and called on the Pakistani government for the rescue of the detained reporter.

A number of Pakistani journalists from Chaman traveled to Kandahar to cover the recent developments following the Taliban takeover.

Earlier, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in his first press conference said the group does not harbour any kind of hostility with anyone and will support a free media under Islamic law in the country.