Reuters journalist Danish Siddiqui has been killed while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters near a border crossing with Pakistan; an Afghan commander has 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 told Reuters news agency on Friday. 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.
Our thoughts are with his family at this terrible time.” Siddiqui told Reuters he had been wounded in the arm by shrapnel earlier on Friday while reporting on the clash. He was treated and had been recovering when Taliban fighters retreated from the fighting in Spin Boldak. Siddiqui had been talking to shopkeepers when the Taliban attacked again, the Afghan commander said
Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni statement:
“We are urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region,” Reuters President Michael Friedenberg and E2ditor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni said in a statement. “Danish was an outstanding journalist, a devoted husband and father, and a much-loved colleague.
THREAD.
Afghan Special Forces, the elite fighters are on various frontlines across the country. I tagged along with these young men for some missions. Here is what happened in Kandahar today while they were on a rescue mission after spending the whole night on a combat mission. pic.twitter.com/HMTbOOtDqN— Danish Siddiqui (@dansiddiqui) July 13, 2021
Deeply disturbed by the sad news of the killing of a friend, Danish Seddiqi in Kandahar last night. The Indian Journalist & winner of Pulitzer Prize was embedded with Afghan security forces. I met him 2 weeks ago before his departure to Kabul. Condolences to his family & Reuters. pic.twitter.com/sGlsKHHein
— Farid Mamundzay फरीद मामुन्दजई فرید ماموندزی (@FMamundzay) July 16, 2021
कल रात कंधार में एक दोस्त दानिश सिद्दीकी की हत्या की दुखद खबर से गहरा दुख हुआ।
भारतीय पत्रकार और पुलित्जर पुरस्कार विजेता अफगान सुरक्षा बलों के साथ थे, जब उन पर आतंकवादियों ने हमला किया था।
मैं उनसे 2 हफ्ते पहले काबुल के लिए रवाना होने से पहले मिला था। उन्होंने फोटो पत्रकारिता pic.twitter.com/iV79PfjO5i
— Farid Mamundzay फरीद मामुन्दजई فرید ماموندزی (@FMamundzay) July 16, 2021
Didn’t know Danish. I wish I did. Pictures that have deeply affected me turning to be his work. Go well mate. India is proud of you.
— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) July 16, 2021
No details was Verfied:
Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the details of the renewed fighting described by the Afghan military official, who asked not to be identified before Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry made a statement. Siddiqui was part of the Reuters photography team to win the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for documenting the Rohingya refugee crisis. A Reuters photographer since 2010, Siddiqui’s work spanned covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Rohingya refugees crisis, the Hong Kong protests and Nepal earthquakes.