SPIN BOLDAK: Reuters journalist Danish Siddiqui was killed on Friday while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters near Spin Boldak, an Afghan commander said.

Afghan special forces had been fighting to retake the main market area of Spin Boldak when Siddiqui and a senior Afghan officer were killed in what they described as Taliban crossfire, the official said.

Siddiqui had been embedded as a journalist since earlier this week with Afghan special forces based in the southern province of Kandahar and had been reporting on fighting between Afghan commandos and Taliban fighters.

“We are urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region,” Reuters President Michael Friedenberg and Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni said in a statement.

The IPI global press freedom network on Friday expressed its deep sorrow over the death of Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui.

“IPI is incredibly saddened to learn of the death of Siddiqui, one of the most accomplished photojournalists of our age.

As a member of the Reuters team, he brilliantly chronicled some of the biggest international news events in recent years, with his images reaching millions around the globe and bringing him well-deserved recognition”, said IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2021