Tolo news reporter beaten up by Taliban in Kabul, Deny reports of death

Kabul: A reporter from Afghanistan’s news channel, Tolo News, was beaten up by Taliban in Kabul. Reportedly, the reporter who has been identified as Ziar Yaad Khan along with his cameraman were beaten by the Taliban while reporting on poverty, unemployment at Haji Yaqub intersection in Kabul.

Earlier reports had claimed that Ziar was killed by Taliban. However, he himself denied about the news and tweeted “I was beaten by the Taliban in Kabul’s New City while reporting. Cameras, technical equipment and my personal mobile phone have also been hijacked. Some people have spread the news of my death which is false. The The Taliban got out of an armored Land Cruiser and hit me at gunpoint.”

“I still don’t know why they behaved like that and suddenly attacked me. The issue has been shared with Taliban leaders; however, the perpetrators have not yet been arrested, which is a serious threat to freedom of expression,” he added in his tweet.

I still don’t know why they behaved like that and suddenly attacked me. The issue has been shared with Taliban leaders; however, the perpetrators have not yet been arrested, which is a serious threat to freedom of expression.

— Ziar Khan Yaad (@ziaryaad) August 26, 2021

Earlier in July, Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed by Taliban while he reporting in Afghanistan’s Kandahar. Danish worked as a chief photographer for news agency Reuters.

As per the reports of CNN-News18, it was confirmed that he was brutally tortured to death where after he lost his life,  his body was dragged mercilessly and was mutilated using a heavy vehicle.

The Taliban last ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 when they were thrown out by US-led forces. The situation at the Kabul airport has remained tense ever since the Taliban fighters swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance, and gained full control over the Afghan capital within a few hours on August 15.