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Two suspects arrested for killing female Afghan journalist
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the assassination of journalist Malalai Maiwand who was gunned down in Jalalabad in Nangarhar early Thursday morning.
Interior Ministry’s spokesman Tariq Arian confirmed the arrest and said the two suspects had been taken into custody on Thursday night.
Arian said in a tweet that during preliminary questioning, the suspects confessed to the crime.
“The assassin of Martyr Malalai Maiwand and his associate were arrested this evening and have confessed to their crime. Investigation underway,” Arian stated.
This came after the shooting of Maiwand, and her driver sparked not only a national outcry but also strong condemnation from foreign countries, organizations, and individuals, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Maiwand was killed shortly after 7.30 am in the Nangarhar provincial capital, along with her driver, while on her way to work. She worked for provincial radio and TV station Enikass.
Reacting immediately after the attack, Arian said in a tweet that “unfortunately, in the last decade and a half, the vast majority of journalists have been killed by the Taliban.”
However, no details were given as to whether the suspects were linked to any group but Daesh did claim responsibility for the attack earlier in the day.
Maiwand’s death on Thursday has meanwhile brought the total number of journalists killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 52, according to CPJ data.
Arian also stated earlier Thursday in a separate tweet that the Afghan security forces had arrested a Taliban militant in connection with the assassination of Ilias Daee, a Radio Azadi reporter, who was killed in an IED blast last month in Helmand.
Arian noted that the insurgent had also confessed to his crime.
The official emphasized that police are trying to arrest the remaining culprits.
Daee was killed and two civilians including his brother were wounded in a magnetic IED explosion in PD1 of Lashkargah city on November 12.
The development comes as targeted attacks on journalists and media workers have increased sharply in recent weeks.
Shahabuddin Delawar, president of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), met with Richard Lindsay, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, to discuss the country’s humanitarian situation and ways to expand assistance for vulnerable communities.
According to ARCS, the meeting focused on support for people affected by natural disasters, Afghan returnees and other vulnerable groups, particularly their urgent humanitarian and healthcare needs.
Delawar thanked the United Kingdom for its humanitarian assistance to people affected by natural disasters and briefed Lindsay on the ARCS’s humanitarian and healthcare activities.
He highlighted the society’s services for children with congenital heart defects at its cardiac hospital, vocational training and skills development programs for vulnerable women and children across seven regional zones, mental healthcare services, and assistance to communities affected by natural disasters.
Delawar said decades of hardship had left many Afghans facing mental health challenges, while vulnerable families continued to struggle with difficult living conditions. He stressed the need for expanded humanitarian assistance and healthcare support.
Referring to the return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries, Delawar said many families urgently need shelter, food, non-food items and medical services. He called for greater UK cooperation to help meet returnees’ basic needs.
Lindsay praised the ARCS’s humanitarian work and pledged continued cooperation in supporting returnees and other humanitarian initiatives in the coming year. He also said he would seek to facilitate effective cooperation with the society in the healthcare sector.
Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation to expand humanitarian assistance, support vulnerable communities and improve healthcare services in Afghanistan.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met with Yatin Patel, India’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul, on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Muttaqi emphasized that, in line with its balanced foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate attaches importance to relations with India.
Referring to the growing volume of trade between the two countries, he stressed the need to strengthen communication and cooperation between Afghanistan’s and India’s public and private sectors, adding that cooperation should be expanded to make better use of existing capacities.
Meanwhile, Yatin Patel said India seeks to expand its relations and engagement with Afghanistan in the economic, political and humanitarian fields.
Muttaqi also wished Patel success in his new assignment.
Mohammad Naeem, Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met on Wednesday with Richard Lindsay, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two sides discussed Afghanistan’s political, economic and security situation, regional stability, humanitarian assistance and consular services.
Naeem expressed appreciation for the UK’s humanitarian assistance and cooperation with Afghanistan and stressed the importance of continuing cooperation between the two sides.
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