THE YOUNG Afghan journalist jailed for downloading an article on women’s rights from the internet, Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, was released in September. He was secretly pardoned by President Hamid Karzai after an international campaign spearheaded by the Independent in London.

AN AFGHAN tele­vision reporter known for his criticism of the Taliban was shot dead in the Khyber Pass region of Pakistan in October. Janullah Hashimzada, Peshawar bureau chief for the TV channel Shamshad, died after being shot many times in an ambush. A colleague, Ali Khan, was seriously wounded.

Justice call after Afghan fixer dies in rescue raid

THE KILLING of an Afghan journalist during a dramatic commando-style rescue of a New York Times reporter by British troops has raised international concerns about the safety of local journalists hired by western correspondents and agencies in war zones.

Sultan Munadi was shot dead in September when troops raided the building where Taliban fighters were holding him captive with the NYT’s Stephen Farrell, who was rescued unhurt.

Sultan Munadi, who was working as his fixer and translator, died in a hail of bullets when he walked out shouting “Journalist! Journalist!”.

Stephen Farrell, who is of Irish birth and carries UK and Irish passports, was whisked away in a helicopter while Sultan Munadi’s body was left lying at the scene for local people to retrieve.

The pair had been kidnapped by Taliban forces while investigating a NATO air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers that reportedly left 70 dead.

Afghan journalist groups criticised the raid, saying negotiations had been under way that could have secured the safe release of both men. And they say they want more support from international outlets who rely on their work.

The head of the Afghan Indepen­dent Journalists’ Association, Rahi­mullah Samandar, said the raid showed international forces did not care about Afghan reporters. “The foreign journalist was treated very well; he was rescued, he was helped, he was protected, but Afghan journalists remain unprotected.” He said it was not the first time a kidnapped Afghan journalist had been killed while a Western colleague was freed.

The International Federation of Journalists called on NATO to investigate the circumstances of Sultan Munadi’s killing and talk to the Afghan Association of Journalists about their safety needs.

“The killing of Sultan brings into sharp focus the issue of safety of local personnel who are employed by foreign media organisations in Afghanistan,” said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. “We must ensure that, like all reporters, they are properly trained to work in dangerous conditions.”