Danish Siddiqui, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist was killed while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban on Friday, his body has been handed over to the Red Cross
Indian Embassy in Kabul is in touch with Afghan authorities to bring back the body of Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, who was killed in Kandhar, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.
Government sources told Sputnik, “We have been informed that the body has been handed over by the Taliban to the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC. We are actively facilitating the return of the body in coordination with Afghan authorities and the ICRC. We are in regular touch with family members of Danish Siddiqui.”
Danish Siddiqui was on a reporting assignment embedded with the Afghan Special Forces and was killed when clashes broke out between the security forces and Taliban fighters in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar city.
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani also expressed his grief over the demise of Siddiqui. “I am deeply saddened with the shocking reports that Reuters Photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed while covering the Taliban atrocities in Kandahar,” he said.
Also read: Pulitzer Winning Indian Photojournalist Danish Siddiqui Killed In Afghanistan Clashes
Walter Lindner, German Ambassador to India also expressed grief over Siddiqui’s death. “Terrible news: Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui (40) was killed today in Afghanistan while covering fighting between Afghan troops and Taliban in Kandahar. Our deepest condolences to his (German) wife, family and friends,” Lindner tweeted.
Meanwhile, a series of terror attacks in the last few weeks has been witnessed by Afghanistan as the US continues to withdraw its troops from the country, ending nearly two-decade of its military presence in the country.
In 2001, the US-led forces evicted the Taliban from power. Now, as the US is pulling back its troops, the Taliban fighters are attempting to gain control of various parts of the country.
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