KABUL (PAN): Afghan journalists have voiced deep concerns at "the reckless and double-standard behaviour" of international forces, especially during the operation in Kunduz province, to rescue a British reporter.

A newly-constituted body of newsmen, the Media Club of Afghanistan (MCA), Thursday assailed foreign troops for the death of their senior colleague Sultan Muhammad Munadi in the military action.

The British commandos exhibited a "double standard" by leaving Munadi's body while rescuing New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell, alleged the MCA that blamed foreign troops for resorting to military action before exhausting other non-violent means.

In a statement, the organisation said: "There is no justification for the international forces to rescue their own national, and retrieve the dead body of their own soldier killed in action, but leave behind the body of Sultan Munadi"

The body urged President Hamid Karzai to launch a thorough investigation so that Munadis murderers were brought to justice. It denounced as reckless the stance of Afghan government on journalists' protection

It condemned the abduction of journalists by the Taliban and asked the movement and other groups not to use the abduction of journalists as means of political and military purposes.

The MCA called on Afghan and international media outlets to boycott all news provided by Taliban insurgents for three days. It asked the Taliban to apologise for the abduction of Munadi.

mud/pr