Taliban intelligence agents detain journalists Hekmat Aryan and Mahdi Ansary

“Taliban intelligence must release journalists Mahdi Ansary and Hekmat Aryan immediately and unconditionally,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. “Afghan journalists face unprecedented pressure from the Taliban, who continue to get away with their ruthless crackdown without being held to account. The Taliban must end these crimes against journalists once for all.”

On September 29, Aryan, the director of the independent Khoshhal radio station, was detained by dozens of Taliban intelligence agents from his office in Ghazni city and transferred to an undisclosed location, according to a journalist who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Aryan’s detention is reportedly linked to an alleged discussion on Khoshhal radio about the Taliban’s past suicide operations.

Separately, Ansary, a reporter for the Afghan News Agency, disappeared on the evening of October 5 while returning home from his office in Kabul, according to a journalist familiar with the situation, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. Local Taliban intelligence agents initially confirmed Ansary’s detention, but his current whereabouts remain unknown.

The reason behind Ansary’s detention remains unclear. However, the journalist has frequently reported on the killings and atrocities against the Hazara ethnic minority during the Taliban’s rule.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told CPJ via messaging app that both the journalists were working with “banned [media] networks” and had engaged in “illegal activities.”