Taliban denies involvement in death of Danish Siddiqui

NEW DELHI: The Taliban has denied any involvement in the death of Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui. Siddiqui, who worked for Reuters news agency, was killed on Friday in Afghanistan while covering the fierce fighting between Afghan troops and the Taliban militants near a border crossing with Pakistan in Kandahar province.

According to a recent report, Taliban's spokesperson Zabibullah Mujahid said that they were not aware during whose firing the journalist was killed. He also said that they did not know how he died. “Any journalist entering the war zone should inform us. We will take proper care of that particular individual," he added. The Taliban spokesperson also expressed regret over the death of the Indian photojournalist.

It is learnt that the Taliban has handed the body of Danish Siddiqui to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Ministry of External Affairs has intensified efforts to bring the body back to India.