The National Directorate of Security (NDS) says its operatives have prevented the assassination of a journalist in Khost province.
NDS in a statement said that its Special Forces have arrested two individuals who were trying to assassinate a reporter of Gharghast TV.
According to the statement, the two detainees were identified as Dindar and Rahmatullah who were belonging to the Haqqani network.
NDS stressed that the terrorist groups are attempting to target media activists.
So, 2020 was a bloody year for journalists in Afghanistan. Eight journalists were killed and 19 others were wounded during the year.
Afghanistan journalist center (AFJC) said in a statement that targeted assassinations of journalists and escalation of self-censorship in Afghanistan have increased to an unprecedented rate.
This comes as, on the first day of 2021, a journalist was killed in Ghor province. However, the Interior Ministry says that it has taken steps to protect journalists.
Afghanistan journalist center registered 112 cases of violence against journalists in 2020, including deaths, injuries, physical violence, insults, humiliation, pressure, and intimidation.
“During 2020, 11 cases of physical violence, 45 cases of threats, six cases of detention, six cases of kidnapping, and four cases of armed acts against journalists were recorded,” AFJC said in a statement on Saturday.
According to the AFJC, ISIL, the Taliban and unknown groups are responsible for killing and injuring journalists. However, the Taliban, government officials, police, national security forces, and local militias are involved in some cases of violence against journalists.
