India denounces killing of journalist in Spin Boldak

KABUL (Pajhwok): India has vehemently denounced the killing of Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Danish Siddiqui in Afghanistan.

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, addressing an event of the United Nations Security Council, voiced concerns at violence against civilians during war.

Associated with Reuters news agency, Siddiqui was killed while covering a clash between the security forces and the Taliban in Spin Boldak on Friday.

“High importance is attached to distinguishing combatants and non-combatants during armed conflicts,” The Hindustan Times quoted the diplomat as saying.

A foreign ministry spokesperson in New Delhi said the Indian ambassador in Kabul was in touch with Afghan authorities on the matter. “We are keeping his family informed of the developments.”

In a statement, the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee also condemned the killing and asked the government to probe the incident.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan *UNAMA), denouncing the journalist’s killing, called for an inquiry. UNAMA called Siddiqui’s death a painful reminder of mounting dangers faced by media in Afghanistan.

PAN Monitor/mud