Six journalists abducted in war-ravaged Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan

The Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have abducted six local journalists from the country's southeastern Paktia province, officials and local media confirmed on Saturday.

Abdullah Hasrat, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Anadolu Agency that the incident took place in the restive Zurmat district when a group of young journalists from neighboring Paktika province were on their way to attend a training session.

The local Tolo news reported that the Taliban are behind the incident, but the group has not commented on it yet.

Last month, an improvised explosive device targeting a private TV channel van killed two people in the capital Kabul.

This came after the Taliban threatened all media outlets in Afghanistan to avoid airing and publishing “propaganda'' against their fighters.

It is important to note that the Taliban had claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing aimed at the leading private news channel, Tolo News, in January 2016 that killed seven journalists.

According to the press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders, the situation of media in Afghanistan has “worsened”.