Kabul: 'False news of my dead spread' Journalist declared killed by Taliban clarifies

TOLO News Journalist Ziar Yaad Khan

KABUL: Came in the wake of news declaring Ziar Yaad Khan, a reporter from Afghanistan's first independent news channel, Tolo News, "dead," Ziar Yaad Khan himself took to Twitter and stated that the news of his death is false.

His move comes after some international and national media has published a piece of news saying Ziar Yaad Khan was killed by the Taliban while he was reporting about "poverty and unemployment" in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Khan dismissed the report of his death via his unverified Twitter handle and said that he was beaten by the Taliban while reporting. He also claimed that the militants had stolen his cameras, technical equipment, and personal mobile phone.

"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 Taliban got out of an armored Land Cruiser and hit me at gunpoint," he tweeted.

"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," Khan further tweeted.

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It needs to be mentioned that because of the ongoing conflict between Taliban and Afghan forces, Afghanistan has always been a difficult place for journalists and reporters.

Earlier in July, Danish Siddiqui, an Indian photojournalist, was killed during a clash between Taliban and Afghan forces while reporting from Kandahar province.

However, the Taliban denied any involvement in Siddiqui's death and expressed regret for his death.

It did, however, claim that media and journalists covering the conflict in Afghanistan must inform the Taliban of their activities.