January 23, 2018
JalalAbad: Two Afghan National Radio Television Journalists seriously wounded, their driver killed in unknown gunmen attack in GhaniKhil district of eastern Nangarhar province on January 21, official said
Bazmohammad Shinwari, reporter and Mohammad Rafiq, cameraman from National Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) were returning with the district governor vehicle to the provincial capital Jalalabad from reporting a story in Ghanikhil district.
Ataullah Khogyani, provincial the provincial governor's spokesman, told Afghanistan Journalists Center that the vehicle Shinwari and Mohammad Rafiq were traveling in came under sustained unknown gunmen attack near fourth farm area of Baticoot district.
He said that the driver died of injuries at the scene of the attack and the journalists critically wounded.
"The journalists were carried to Kabul for further treatment and now reported to have regained consciousness and hospital administration say their conditions are out of danger," said RTA provincial chief Aminullah Zahir
The Afghanistan Journalists Center executive director Ahmad Quraishi condemned the attack and expressed sorrow at the incident.
“It is a grim reminder of the danger that continues to face the Afghan journalists, the authorities must immediately launch an investigation into the assault to identify the suspects and take swift action against those responsible.” Mr.Quraishi added
It comes three weeks after a horrific IS suicide bombing on Afghan Voice News Agency and Tebyan cultural center in Kabul that killed dozens including a journalist and injured 11 other media staff.