Danish Siddiqui (Indian Express)
2018 Feature Photography contributor and Reuters journalist Danish Siddiqui "was killed on Friday while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters near a border crossing with Pakistan," according to a staff report. Afghan special forces were embroiled in a fight to reclaim he main market area of Spin Boldak when Siddiqui and a senior Afghan military officer were killed in what an Afghan commander characterized as Taliban crossfire. Siddiqui, who had been embedded as a journalist since earlier this week with Kandahar-based Afghan special forces, had been reporting on fighting between Afghan commandos and Taliban fighters.
"We are urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region," Reuters President Michael Friedenberg and Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni said in a statement. "Danish was an outstanding journalist, a devoted husband and father, and a much-loved colleague. Our thoughts are with his family at this terrible time."
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani "said in a statement on Twitter that he was 'deeply saddened with the shocking reports' of Siddiqui's death and extended condolences to his family." Prior to his death, Siddiqui told the news agency that he had been wounded in his arm with shrapnel. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Islamist movement and military organization "had not been aware there was a journalist reporting from the site of what he described as a 'fierce battle' and that it was not clear how Siddiqui had been killed."
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-- Sean Murphy