Human Rights Watch Condemns Taliban Attack On Afghan TV Staff

The Taliban, who claimed responsibility for the attack, issued another grim warning to carry out other attacks. “If they do not stop their evil activities this will not be the last attack on them”, a Taliban spokesman said in an emailed statement to Reuters. More than 40 civilians died in the airstrike and led to calls by the medical charity for an independent investigation.

The relatively poor, war-torn nation of Afghanistan has been one such locale, with President Ashraf Ghani warning the U.S. Congress last March about the “terrible threat” the group poses to his country and its neighbors.

“Henceforth no employee, anchor, office, news team and reporter of these TV channels holds any immunity”, the statement said.

The emergence of free media is seen as a major achievement of post-Taliban Afghanistan.

Human Rights Watch past year warned about growing violence and intimidation against journalists in Afghanistan by Taliban insurgents, warlords and the government.

Rajab Noorzayi said his daughter Zeinab was on the bus but he hasn’t been able to locate her. “I’m looking for her but the police say everyone has been taken to hospital”, he said.

The Taliban particularly boosted its operations in Afghanistan after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ended its military mission in late 2014 and launched a non-combat operation instead. “By specifically targeting journalists, terrorists have proven once again they have no regard for Afghanistan’s people or future”, said Brig.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi were also present during the meeting. The new rules were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Afghan journalists have faced increasing intimidation and violence from both state and non-state figures in recent years.

The Taliban has increased attacks on civilian targets in recent months as part of a fierce offensive that has wrested territory from the Afghan government. Amid worsening security across Afghanistan, the White House has several times altered Mr. Obama’s original plans for withdrawing USA troops.